Golden Spear wins November Handicap

Tony Martin’s prospects of winning Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup have been hindered by a disastrous draw but the wily trainer did claim the November Handicap at Leopardstown today with Golden Spear which was winning his second E100,000 race of the year.

Martin runs Ebor Handicap winner Heartbreak City in Tuesday’s ‘race that stops a nation’ and while his wide 23 draw means he is unlikely to win, Martin did bag another big race handicap today with Golden Spear, which had won another E100,000 race, the Guinness Handicap, at the Galway Festival in July.

The son of Kyllachy today benefitted from a well judged, trouble-free ride from Conor Hoban and in the end the pair scored a half length win over Nakeeta

Martin is currently overseeing preparations in Australia and following his win, Hoban stated “it’s great to get the opportunity from Tony - I was talking to him last night and he filled me with loads of confidence. He told me to ride him for luck and if it happens, it happens. In fairness he had the horse turned out perfectly for today and it worked out brilliant.

“When you are riding for Tony is those big handicaps, he is the man to go to. I was delighted to get the ride and thanks to my agent Ciaran O’Toole who got me on him, it was a great ride to get.

“It’s special to win it at the end of the season - it caps it and it was badly wanted.”

Leopardstown's prestigious and historic race has now, somewhat oddly, been contested in the month of October on each of the last three renewals with Sir Ector the last horse to win a November Handicap last run in the month of November, in 2013.

By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson