Velazquez finishes fifth to Foley's filly on first Irish ride

Visiting American Hall Of Fame jockey John Velazquez was unplaced on his first ride in Ireland today, finishing fifth behind winner Over The Blues (2/5f) in Naas' Tinnakill House Maiden.

Velazquez, with over 6,000 winners in North America, became the leading money-earning jockey in the history of the sport in 2014 and, in 2017, won the Man o' War Stakes for trainer Dermot Weld - who provided today's ride De Janeiro

Today's race was won in style by the Pat Foley-trained, Jim Browne-owned Over The Blues which quickened well to beat Speedwood by two lengths, with the pair finishing well clear of the remaining 12 runners.

Afterwards Foley commented “Over The Blues did that pretty well and as Luke (McAteer, winning jockey) said it a matter of getting from A to B with her.

“She was green first time and while she is normally pretty good coming out of stalls, she was in there for a long time and missed the break a little bit. Luke had to get after her then to hold a position but that lit her up and then she maybe didn't see out the six fully from being keen.

“She gets six (furlongs) no problem but in saying that you could easily drop her back to five. They are a speedy family, four have won maidens for us but this is the only one which could go over five. They are all very different although this is very different to the rest of them as she's probably the strongest and being a sprinter, all she'll do is improve.

"It's a fair broodmare that Jim (Browne, owner/breeder) has.”

He added “there is a conditions race in Tipperary next week but I'd say that might be a bit quick for her and there is a Listed race back here in a month's time over this trip so that would seem to be ideal for her. We don't mind stepping her up in class and that's probably an ideal option.”

Quotes from Gary Carson