Six Of Hearts plays trump card

Rarely do 82 rated hurdlers win Group events but that happened at Leopardstown today, when the Cecil Ross trained rags-to-riches success story Six Of Hearts landed his seventh, and biggest, success todate, in the Group 3 Vodafone Ireland Foundations Supports Gaisce Ballycorus Stakes.

Ridden by Davy Moran, the gelded son of Pivotal was produced with impeccable timing to take up the lead 150 yards out, to record a half length win over 8/13f Duff

For veteran Ross, today’s win was his biggest “by a long way”, while the Mullingar trainer also joked “I’m not going to be smart and claim today was the plan with Six Of Hearts, because everyday he runs is the plan with him!”

He revealed “we bought him for £11,000 (out of Jamie Osborne’s yard) at a Horses In Training Sale in October ’07 - he was rated just 58 then and we sent him hurdling without success!”

He added “we were hoping for second place today but he is the type of horse which always has his chance as he is dog tough. We left off the cheek pieces today, he was always wearing some types of jewellery, and it seems to have rejuvenated him.

“Yielding ground is as soft as Six Of Hearts wants and he is better on lively ground - Davy Moran gave him a super ride. Don’t ask me for plans now, I’ve none!”