Veteran Geological records 16th career win on 138th start

Geological rolled back the years to provide trainer Damian English with a welcome change of fortune in the M D O’Shea & Sons Handicap at Killarney.

The Rock Of Gibraltar gelding has been an incredible servant to the north County Dublin trainer with 16 career wins from an amazing 138 starts.

The ten-year-old made virtually all under Donagh O’Connor and kept on well inside the final furlong to score by a-length-and-a-quarter.

There was a tricky puzzle for the judge to sort out the minor places with Talking Tough Transition and Scarriff separated by a nose and a short-head.

A delighted English said afterwards, "What a servant. He has now won every year for us since we bought him.

"He has been leading the two year olds at home all winter and it is has really sweetened him up. He has been hammering them all, except for one, and has got the appetite back. Donagh reckons he mightn't be finished yet.

"It was getting harder at the higher level, he probably lost his confidence but as he has come back down the ratings, his confidence has come back and it was his first ever time running in a 0-65. We were hoping that would be enough to get him across the line."

The Naul trainer added, "It has been a year since my last winner, which was him, and we came down last night to get him settled in and it has worked a treat. It has been a quiet year but we have five two year olds, things are coming along slowly but we'll get there."

Quotes by Tom Weekes