Celestial Orbit pays immediate dividend on O’Brien switch
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Fri 3 Apr 2026
Celestial Orbit relished the soft ground at the Curragh as Joseph O’Brien trained the first two home in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Park Express Stakes.
Formerly based in Britain with Ollie Sangster, the winner switched stables in the hope of encountering optimum conditions more often and found it in this Group Three event over a mile.
Under Joey Sheridan she was a 33-1 chance, and outran those odds when triumphant by a half a length from stablemate Princess Child (22-1).
“She came over from Ollie Sangster because they were struggling to find real heavy ground for her in the UK,” said O’Brien.
“Ollie said that she was a very good filly, which she was on her form, but you just need to find soft ground and obviously we have plenty of that here. You can see her action, she really thrives in it.
“I’m delighted to win a Group race with her as she’s on her way to the paddocks. She’ll probably be covered in the next few weeks.
“She might have another run or two, we’ll speak to the owners and see.”
Of the runner up, who was ridden by Declan McDonogh, O’Brien said: “Princess Child ran great. Things just didn’t fall right for her here the last day. She relaxed very well today and found the line well.”
The Ger Lyons-trained odds-on favourite Faiyum had to settle for third place, one spot ahead of Paddy Twomey’s Ribblesdale third Catalina Delcarpio.
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