Scorpion's Revenge and Daniel Nevin© Photo Healy Racing
"I was starting to doubt whether I'd get a winner and am due to go back on Saturday. I had bad racing luck and didn't have time on my side but this is the ground they all want,” said American handler Keri Brion when finally getting a bit of luck in Ireland at Cork today. Scorpion’s Revenge (25/1) won on debut for Brion in the Jim Ryan Racecourse Services (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race.
It was also a landmark success for jockey Daniel Nevin who registered his first track winner here on Scorpion’s Revenge for owner, former American champion, Irvin Naylor.
Scorpion’s Revenge ran freely early, soon settling in mid-division.
He made progress into sixth four furlongs out and got on terms three furlongs out. A half-brother to a winner in Arthur Fonzarelli, the outsider led travelling well two and a half furlongs out.
Ridden two furlongs out and pressed inside the final furlong Scorpion’s Revenge kept on well in the closing stages to beat Shuil Donn by a length and a half.
"Our season is getting ready to start in America and all the horses are going back to Saratoga to run for big money and the owners rightly want them home and freshened up,” further explained Brion, based in County Wexford with Ellen Doyle and her brother James.
"I sourced this horse for the Naylors in November to come back to America and he was just about ready to run but we gave him the winter off as he was never going to like the winter ground in Ireland.
"We said if the ground got better we'd give him a run and finally, the weather played into my favour!"
She added: "I think we will come back - the owners have really enjoyed it and a few of them would love to come to the races.
"I learned a lot but was just missing this win. I know exactly now what type of horses are needed and it is a high standard. French Light is a Grade 1 horse in America but runs in a novice handicap hurdle tomorrow at Fairyhouse so that tells you what you're looking at. Plus, you are competing in the winter which is the toughest racing.
"To be fair to Dan (Nevin) he has worked him and gets on with him and the owners were happy to give him a chance today and the Naylors have been so good to me."
For his part Nevin explained: "I'm 20, from Gowran and work for Harley Dunne in Wexford. I have three point to point winners ridden and it's always good to get the first track winner out of the way."
Mr B. O'Neill, rider of Largy Fix trained by M.F.Morris, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount stopped quickly.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that Sevvy Christiano trained by Patrick G.Kelly was found to have blood at both nostrils post race.
P.J. Cawley, rider of Sevvy Christiano trained by Patrick G.Kelly, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount burst a blood vessel.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Largy Fix, trained by M.F.Morris, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
(TW & EM)
