Michael Graham
Toscanini gets his deserved victory
Toscanini, left, beats General Marshall in Dundalk
© Photo Healy Racing
Toscanini got off the mark at odds of 1/5 in Dundalk’s two-year-old over six furlongs, after a series of good runs in Pattern company.
He beat 4/1 second favourite General Marshall by three parts of a length. He didn’t have it all his own way though as he was ridden in second with under a quarter of a mile to go.
He soon closed on General Marshall and stayed on well to get up inside the final furlong.
Trainer Mick Halford said: “His form entitled him to win. We were keen to drop him in. Joseph probably got first run (on runner-up General Marshall). It’s nice to go and win after tough races.
“Shane said when he pulled him out he was a bit lost but once he got a hold of him and gave him a smack he straightened up. He always knew he was going to get there. It was his first time round the bend and on that surface. I’d say he went asleep on Shane.”
He had been second in Listed contests at Naas and Royal Ascot and filled the same place in the Group 3 Anglesey Stakes last-time out.
Joseph O'Brien picked up a two days suspension for failing to give the runner-up time to respond to the whip.