Sequoia sweet back on the Flat

Sequoiaspirit stayed on best in the closing stages to land the spoils in the second division of the Patrickswell Apprentice Handicap at Limerick.

There were three in a line passing the furlong mark in the mile-and-three contest as Paddy Harnett produced his mount to challenge on the inner.

The Ray Hackett-trained gelding got the better of No Trouble in the closing stages to secure a half length victory.

Sequoiaspirit was returning to the Flat having been well beaten in recent runs over hurdles. He was supported from 33/1 into 9/1.

"He struggled the last day over hurdles and it knocked the stuffing out of him. It took him a long time to recover and we said we'd come back and have a go at this, with the light weight and see,” said Hackett.

"It was more to sweeten him than anything and it worked out grand.

"I thought Paddy gave him a peach of a ride. He is a very handy horse but his heart is in the right place. I wouldn't be too anxious to put a big weight on him and he'll pitch away on the flat for a while.

"We thought he'd be in the shake-up with the fitness level he had from the hurdles."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)