Veteran trainer Cecil Ross described Six Of Hearts’ win in the €85,000 Paddy Power Sprint at The Curragh today as “a miracle” and “as good as winning the lotto”.

The gelded son of Pivotal, ridden by Sam James, got to the front inside the final furlong to hold the late challenge of unlucky-in-running Collingwood and 26 other sprinters.

Mullingar based Ross, a former jump jockey and better known over the years as a trainer of jump horses, was understandably delighted with the win, saying “this is like winning the lotto – I’ve been trying to win the Lotto all my life but this is as good as it!”

“When Six Of Hearts won his Listed race at Leopardstown it was a miracle and to win today was a bigger miracle - this win tops it all off big time!”

“He’ll come back here for the Group 3 Minstrel Stakes on July 16 but there aren’t likely to be many more options as the handicapper won’t take weight off him for today.”

“Sam gave him a brilliant ride and kept cool, which you have to do on him. Six Of Hearts has five furlong pace, and while he is not much good over five furlongs, he has plenty of gears.”

Thomas Weekes