Mark Nunan
Coogan back amongst the winners with Stop On Red
Stop On Red and Andrew Slattery (white bridle) hold on to beat Brosna Empress (left)
© Photo Healy Racing
The Join Us On Instagram @dundalk_stadium Nursery went to the 7/1 chance Stop On Red who raced handily before hitting the front a furlong and a half out.
Things got pretty desperate close home but the Mehmas gelding, off bottom weight, held on by a head from Brosna Empress (8/1) with 66/1 chance Paloise keeping on into third place.
The winner had finished third on his nursery debut over a furlong further at this venue earlier in the month and winning rider Andrew Slattery, who rode him on that occasion, said after this success that he had been keen to ride him again and that he had probably found himself in front here sooner than ideal.
It was a welcome winner for trainer Jimmy Coogan, whose most recent success had come when Theyturnedmedown scored at Navan in 2013.
“He had a good run here the last day and with normal racing improvement I half expected him to do the job today,” said Coogan of the winner who is owned by his wife Annette.
“If we can win another one with him we might get him sold.
“It's that long since I had a winner I can't tell you when it was!
“It's good to get back but as I say 'you can't go to war without soldiers' and I don't have the soldiers. I only have four riding out.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson