Avatar Jet (right) © Photo Healy Racing
Avatar Jet (3/1 joint-favourite) took the three-year-old handicap over a mile under a ground-saving ride from Gary Carroll.
The latter settled his mount behind the leaders and got a dream run up the inner at the dog-leg just over two furlongs out. Soon in front, the Belardo gelding kept on well to account for Copie Conforme by a length and a quarter.
The jockey's brother Tim, an ex-jockey who now works on the stalls handling team, owns the Belardo gelding in partnership and said of his first success as an owner: "I'm absolutely delighted, I love this horse and bought him a year ago with one of the stalls handlers Eoin Charlton.
"We were worried about the ground but he obviously flew on it and I think he'll improve a lot. Gary said he ended up getting to the front too soon but said he had to take the gap.
"We were a bit far off the pace the last day at Cork but the winner Lord Church won since and we rode him handier today, which made all the difference. He is learning all the time."
He added: "This is a great buzz and Mark has done a great job. He is a shrewd trainer and was the one who kept telling me to step him up in trip. I ride him out myself, we've had great fun with him and are looking at Galway next.
"It is a while since I got a kick like this."
Quotes from Tom Weekes
