St Faz puts smiles on faces at Killarney

Owner Aidan Ryan and trainer Edward O'Grady have a very nice Flat horse under their care in Ecureuil Secret and today they kept up the forward momentum as St Faz landed the Torc Travel Maiden Hurdle at Killarney.

Ecureuil Secret was a creditable fourth in the recent Bank Holiday Monday Listed Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh.

Down the country this afternoon Phillip Enright kept it simple from the front in Ryan's familiar black and yellow livery, and St Faz (2/1) and favourite How About No (13/8) had this to themselves with over a circuit left to race. At the death Enright could ease up and still register a length and a half winning margin.

"I'm disappointed this horse hadn't won as a three-year-old but maybe the better ground is a big help and we decided rather than losing our novice allowance to wait until now. He was only touched off at Navan the other day and the second has come out and won since so the form is quite good," said O'Grady.

"We were fortunate the other fancied horse in the race, the second (runner-up How About No) had never run over hurdles and I think that made a difference.

"Aidan is a great owner to have and I'm delighted Liz is here with him. He likes coming down, I like coming down here and it has worked out really well. He got a lovely ride and settled well for him."

D.J. O'Keeffe, rider of Spitfire Fighter trained by Noel Meade, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount made a mistake at the last hurdle.

M.M. McDonagh, rider of Her Self trained by Michael Hourigan, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount's saddle slipped.

S.F. O'Keeffe, rider of Arthur (GER), trained by Sean Aherne, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount burst a blood vessel.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer reported to the Raceday Stewards that Arthur (GER) trained by Sean Aherne was seen to have blood at both nostrils post race.

(TW & EM)