Santo Padre back in winner's enclosure

The David Marnane trained Santo Padre recorded his first win since winning the 2009 Portland Handicap, when landing the featured Listed Woodlands Stakes at Naas today.

The eight year old gelding, ridden by Fergal Lynch, was outpaced from halfway in the five furlong dash but stayed on gamely to eventually win, going away, by two and a half lengths win over British raider and 6/4 favourite Spirit Quartz

Afterwards Marnane said “last year was a very messy season for Santo Padre – I was never happy with him and we never really got a run with him.

“This year he has improved off his first run at Dundalk to Cork, and again from Cork to today.

“Now that he is getting a bit older, maybe an ease in the ground is helping him. He'll probably go for the Greenlands Stakes at The Curragh next month.”