Whearty rides first winner for Hogan

Robert Whearty won on his first ride for trainer Denis Hogan today with Royal Tribute (9/1) which beat three stablemates to win Dundalk's opening 12-runner Irishinjuredjockeys.com Claiming Race, before being claimed for €6,000.

Hogan ran four horses in the seven-furlongs race, three of which were owned by the Premier Racing Club including winner Royal Tribute, which defeated runner-up My Little Tip by a half-length. Stablemates Hurricane Helen Majestic Colt and Aljady finished fourth, sixth and last respectively.

Whearty said "I had a lovely draw in six and was happy enough with the position I got.

“I travelled away and travelled lovely into the straight. I was following James McAuley's horse (My Little Tip), he travelled away lovely down to the furlong pole and I thought it was only a matter of picking them off when I came in the final 100 yards.

"It was my first ride for Denis, he said the horse has been going well and thankfully it was a winner so hopefully it is onwards and upwards.”

The Kingman-sired winner and was claimed by My Little Tip's owner/trainer James McAuley for €6,000, with the claimer kingpin also purchasing stablemate Majestic Colt for €10,000.

Quotes from Michael Graham