Brokopondo enjoys his time in Gowran Brokopondo travelled sweetly into the race and came through to pick off Beechmount Whisper in Gowran Park's extended mile and one handicap. Beechmount Whisper came into this contest with three recent placed efforts to his name and he quickly set out to make it a true test from the front under Robbie Burke. A visor was tried on him for the first time. He was five lengths clear with over half a mile to go. However, the field closed up on him turning for home as he came off the bridle. Brokopondo raced in seventh turning in but Donagh O'Connor was sitting quietly on board. Beechmount Whisper was still at the head of affairs approaching the final furlong but Brokopondo moved into second down the middle of the track. O'Connor gave him a couple of cracks and the pair collared Beechmount Whisper close home to win by half a length at 12/1. The runner-up was returned 6/1. Another 6/1 shot, Lucy Rie, kept on for third a further two and a half lengths back. Handler Johnny Levins said: "Stepping him up in trip was a bit of a help. I kinda got it wrong the last day, I dropped him back to six but I would imagine it sharpened him up so it probably did him some bit of good. Donagh gave him an absolute peach of a ride. "I'm delighted for his owner Declan Kiernan. He has persevered with this horse and he really did deserve to lead him back into the winners' enclosure. I'm delighted for him and Donagh and the horse as well. Hopefully he can back it up now." This was the horse's third run for Levins having formerly been with Evanna McCutcheon. Additional reporting by Donal Murphy
