Fire flops as Almadaa makes all

Almadaa recorded his ninth career success as he took the BBQ Evening Wednesday August 12th Handicap under Connor King for David Marnane and owners the Western Partnership.

Available at 9/1 this morning the eight-year-old son of Exceed And Excel proved friendless with punters and went off a 16/1 chance.

Sent straight into the lead he was ridden under two furlongs out and kept on well under pressure inside the final furlong, going on to score by a length and a quarter. Cruidin (14/1), who swished her tail in the closing stages, ran on well to take second under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger while Hatton Cross (8/1) was three and a quarter lengths back in third under Wayne Lordan for Thomond O'Mara. Firecrown was the big disappointment of the race. The John Oxx trained filly was sent off the 8/11 favourite but she found little when ridden and finished fourth.

Connor King said afterwards: "I've won on him before (his fifth win aboard the gelding) but he never won over seven furlongs so that was a bit of a question mark. He did it well and he got the trip well."