Mark Nunan
Third career win for Harrington's Shona Mea
Shona Mea and Shane Foley
© Photo Healy Racing
Shona Mea (10/1) took the second split of the Holden Plant Rentals Handicap for horses rated 45-65.
The Dragon Pulse filly, a product of the Irish National Stud as is first division winner Stormy Jenn chased the leaders under Shane Foley before coming through to lead over a furlong from home. She went clear in the final hundred yards to readily defeat Phoenix Open (13/2) by three and a half lengths.
It was a third career win for the 4-year-old, and a first of this campaign, having won twice over a mile in 2020.
Having worn cheekpieces on her previous two unplaced outings, she was fitted with a visor on this occasion.
Winning trainer Jessica Harrington said: "She has to get down into that grade, won here over a mile last year and over 1m1f today. She is in at the Curragh on Friday (in a 1m apprentice handicap, along with first race winner Howling Wolf and will most likely go there as she'll probably get a hike for that.
"The (first-time) visor made a big difference today."
Quotes from Thomas Weekes