McGuinness seals first Group-race win with Bowerman

Bowerman maintained his unbeaten Dundalk record when winning a competitive renewal of the Group 3 Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Diamond Stakes and gave trainer Ado McGuinness his first Group-race success.

The 10/1 shot brought up a double for Colin Keane who won the opener on the card on Ahyoka Bowerman is now three from three at Dundalk.

The pair were fully 10th of the 14 runners with three furlongs to travel but made good headway a furlong and a half down.

They worked their way to the front inside the final furlong and fended off 40/1 outsider Sky Seven by half a length. Gold Maze (17/2) passed the post in third place another two and a quarter lengths away.

Ado McGuinness said: “He's an unbelievable horse. Colin said he's so relaxed.

“We worked him up here during the week and he was very good. He's a dream horse to have and I'm delighted for the lads, the Total Recall Racing Club. They're very loyal owners and have been very very lucky.

“That's the first group race I've ever won, so I'll remember it.

“He's probably going to be finished for a while but if some of the middle east races open up later on the year he'll head out to one of those places - Dubai or he could go to Bahrain or Doha if we can get an invitation.

“I'm thrilled to bits. I'm lucky to have two or three very nice horses and that's what it's all about. When you get those type of horses you can go an awful lot more places.

“I know what it's like coming down here with 47-65 horses. I'm 18 years at it now and we've been lucky to get good owners in.

“I owe a lot to the late Bart O'Sullivan, who passed away last year, as he introduced me to a lot of new owners from England and we've really prospered.

“The Total Recall lads have been with me since I started and we've had 36 or 37 winners.

“We had Beau Michael, Beau Warrior, Beau Satchel, winners at Galway, and I'm blessed to have them.”

Bowerman's overall record is now an impressive eight winners from 18 runners. His last success was in the Irish Lincoln at the Curragh in June.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson