Zahee & Lee combine to win for McConnell

The Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap went to the 11/2 chance Zahee who was ridden by Billy Lee.

The Iffraaj gelding, a course and distance winner in July, was held up in rear of mid-division before making smooth headway in the straight. He led a furlong out and was ridden clear to beat Brosna Empress by a length and a quarter. Trading Point was next home to make it a 1-3 for trainer John McConnell.

There was a late plunge on Fozzy Stack’s Chazzesmee (22/1 into 11/4 fav) but he went wrong just after coming out of the stalls and was immediately pulled up.

The winning 6-year-old didn’t see the racetrack until four and was previously in the care of Saeed Bin Suroor and Ado McGuinness.

Lee said afterward: “We went a nice pace, he's usually a little bit keen and you have to get him to switch off but he settled lovely from the start and I had a lovely position.

“Turning into the straight I was going really well but just had nothing to aim at as they were spread across the track a bit.

“I just had to sit for a few more strides and to be fair to him when I asked him to pick up he picked up well and kept galloping out to the line well.

“He's a good solid horse, he was rated a good bit higher before and if he keeps in that form hopefully there is another day in him.”

Quotes form Gary Carson