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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Stepping Down steps up in style

Thu 15th Aug 2013, 18:12

Stepping Down and Shane Gray coast home at TramoreStepping Down and Shane Gray coast home at Tramore
© Photo Healy Racing

Stepping Down fairly scooted round the Tramore bends to demolish her rivals in the mile and a half maiden.

Shane Gray and the three-year-old filly were well clear throughout and nothing came to trouble her as she powered into the home straight to score by nine and a half lengths at 4/1.

Sheikh Mohammed’s Papaya (11/4) travelled sweetly for Declan McDonogh, but when push came to shove before the final bend there was little forthcoming. She kept on to take second place.

Handler Michael Mulvany said: “She got a handy lead and she’s a good honest filly. She deserved to win her maiden. She’s been second a few times.

“She ran off the bend here the last day (June 1st) and she stayed on again at the finish. This track suits her and she’s only small.” Golden Silence was the 9/4 favourite for Kevin Prendergast and Gary Halpin, but he didn’t make any headway in fourth.

The going was changed to yielding after this race.

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy

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.