Tom Weekes
Big Gossey wins a second Bold Lad Handicap
Big Gossey and Robert Whearty (grey horse, nearest)
© Photo Healy Racing
Big Gossey (16/1) followed up his 2021 heroics in winning a second Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Bold Lad' Sprint Handicap today, landing the €150,000 contest under 7lb claimer Robert Whearty.
The six-year-old won the 2021 renewal when rated 87 and today, rated 98, defeated 21 rivals, beating runner-up Never Shout Never by a length and a quarter.
It was the Charles O'Brien-trained, Allegro Syndicate-owned gelding's sixth career success, and a second at Premier Handicap level for 19 year old Whearty, who later reported “he was a bit unlucky the last day when he went (reared) up in the gates a small bit and I missed the break. I had a bit of ground to make up and probably used him up at the wrong time.”
He added “I had a lovely position today and he travelled into it lovely. He had a bit of a look when he got there but thankfully he stayed going.
“It’s brilliant to be riding Champions Weekend, never mind to have a winner.”
Quotes from Alan Magee