Melbourne 10 and Osborne get their winner

Two second placers (Summersault and Rialto Magic and a third (Snoozing Indian) had shown up well for Melbourne 10 Racing and Jamie Osborne earlier. Their winner arrived in the finale at Laytown with the Kate Harrington-ridden Room Key in the Hibernia Steel (QR) Race.

The well-backed favourite (2/1 into 13/8) soon led and he was pushed along to go a few lengths clear under three furlongs out. Dancing Noretta kept on well inside the final furlong, but she was never getting to Room Key, and a length split them at the finish.

"When you looked at them this morning he probably had the best chance. He's been plying his trade in much better races than this. The conditions of the race suited him. He was probably the nap of the day," reflected Osborne.

"The others ran okay, we had two seconds, a third and two ran ordinary. We've had a great day.

"It's a brilliant place! We'll be back, the boys have enjoyed it. We are going to stay in Dublin tonight and go back tomorrow. It would have been a tough one to go home with no winners.

"We were on our way back from Norway and we thought 'where can we go where we have a proper chance of winning?' It started off that we were just going to bring a horse and then Ian (Barrett, of Melbourne 10 Racing) said 'why don't we try and fill the card?'"

The Stewards received a report from the Clerk of the Scales, Mr. P.W. Murtagh, regarding the failure of Mr J.J. Codd, rider of Rock Lobster (GB), placed sixth, to weigh in after this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who accepted that this was the case. Having considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that the rider was in breach of Rule 230 and having considered his previous record in this regard, they cautioned him. Furthermore the Stewards disqualified Rock Lobster from sixth place

(MG & EM)