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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

In-form Harrington seals double through Rovetta

Sun 26th Aug 2018, 16:41

Rovetta and Shane Crosse head for homeRovetta and Shane Crosse head for home
© Photo Healy Racing

Rovetta led home stablemate Echo Park in the mile and a half fillies' handicap at the Curragh to give in-form Jessica Harrington a double on the card.

Echo Park and Colm O'Donoghue tried to stretch the field when they kicked racing past the three marker.

It was Rovetta who hunted her down, though, as she made good headway in the final quarter of a mile for Shane Crosse.

Rovetta (5/2f) swept past Echo Park (10/3) a furlong out and her measure in the final 100 yards as he prevailed by two lengths. Morga (10/1) completed the placings in third, some nine lengths behind.

Jessica Harrington said: “If we'd changed them around and claimed off the other one I'd say she would have won. There's not much between them. They are two improving fillies.

“The key to Rovetta is soft ground and the other filly doesn't really mind what she goes on.

“They are both mile-and-six, probably two mile, fillies. Echo Park needed a proper test herself and Rovetta did as well.

“Rovetta has been in every sort of race over the weekend. She was in the mares race in Kilbeggan, the novice race in Killarney and I said come for this one.

“I'd say she might go for a mares listed hurdle.”

Crosse, having his second ride for Harrington, said: "I can't thank her enough for leaving me on her, it's not every day you get to ride for trainers like her.

"I just found a few tired horses coming back to me and the gaps were there. I never had to panic on her and she just brought me into the race.

"I was praying for rain when I was riding out this morning!"

This was 7lb-claimer Crosse's 12th winner of the season.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
5/2Fav
Tote €3.50 €2.20
2nd
2L
10/3
€1.80
3rd
9L
10/1
€1.80
4th
1L
16/1
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.