Foley bags brace as freelance

Gymkhana gave Shane Foley and Jessica Harrington a quick double on the card at Gowran Park when landing the mile conditions race.

Foley, who lost his job as Michael Halford's stable jockey on Thursday evening, responded in great style as he embarked on his freelance career.

Having partnered The King to an impressive win in the preceding maiden he was back in the winners enclosure again 35 minutes later.

Gymkhana was produced to lead a furlong-and-a-half from home and looked to have matters in control passing the furlong pole. Sorelle Delle Rose rallied inside the final furlong but Foley's mount had a bit up his sleeve and kept on again for a three-parts-of-a-length success.

The winner was making his first start for Harrington having come from Ger Lyons. He had also won first time out for his previous trainer at Naas in March.

“He came to me from Ger's. He left Ger's and had then been gelded and had a wind operation,” said Harrington.

“He came to me and I've just trained him away. I said to Shane there 'I've no idea how fit he is'.

“He won in France over a mile and that's why we said we'd run him over a mile, though he won over six for Ger.

“Shane said he got there way too soon. He got to the front and he thought he'd done his job. He was only idling.

“He loves that soft ground. We might go back for a Listed race on that ground. I'd say he probably has to have soft ground.

“He's not an over-big horse so I'd say we'll probably go for a Listed race rather than a handicap. He was going to run in a handicap at Listowel but I thought it was too heavy for him.”