Samitar and Harley motor to 1,000 Guineas win

Samitar caused a 12/1 upset to win the Etihad Airways Irish 1,000 Guineas at The Curragh today, scoring first Irish Classic winners for trainer Mick Channon and jockey Martin Harley, on his first ever Classic ride.

Channon had previously won a German Guineas but was recording his first major Classic winner while Harley, from Letterkenny, was steering his first ever Group winner.

Harley tracked the leaders on the daughter of Rock Of Gibraltar before moving the filly to the front a furlong out, staying on well to hold the challenge of the Aidan O'Brien trained Ishvana (33/1) by a length and half, with Princess Sinead (25/1) taking third spot.

English 1,000 Guineas winner Homecoming Queen was an easy to back 11/8 favourite and found little on the faster ground, to finish a well held fourth.

Channon, who played international soccer for England and was a League Cup winner in 1985, said “Samitar had the form with La Collina on last year's form but we had to find the filly! She was ridden with a bit of confidence today instead of just letting 'whizz', which is what happened in her first two races this season.

“I said I wanted to do it my way today and the owner (Martin Schwartz) left me put Martin up and he got it spot on on her. What a lucky lad!

“I keep going on about the soft ground but everyone has been running on a 'bog' all spring and it's a crazy situation how Homecoming Queen won a Classic by nine lengths – there's no logic to it but when you get into the 'high' summer, your results tend to get a lot more predictable.

“At least we got her ground today and now you're starting to see her at her best - she'll probably go for the Coronation Stakes and then onto America later in the year.”

Harley, who had been with Channon for a year and a half having spent four years apprenticed to Jim Bolger, added “Oh my god i cant believe it! It was a big opportunity to be given me my first ride in a Classic.

“She had been working well and didn't run badly in France the last day. I was quite confident two furlongs out and she picked up and ran all the way to the line – this is an unbelievable experience!”