Club Wexford wins snugly from Zakhm at Leopardstown © Photo Healy Racing
Another ‘shortie’ did the business in race two at Leopardstown as Club Wexford made the most of a drop in class and a good berth in stall one.
Kevin Manning popped the Lawman colt out smartly to take the six runner field along. Iniesta and Zakhm tracked him, but as Club Wexford came round the home turn Iniesta weakened out of contention.
Zakhm moved past Iniesta and tried to reel Club Wexford in at the furlong pole, but Manning’s mount kept on going to win comfortably and eased down by a length and a quarter at 11/10.
Successful handler Jim Bolger said: “Six or seven doesn’t matter to him. That’s why he didn’t have a lot of pace on. The Railway Stakes is an option.”
Zakhm, who was runner-up on his debut at Gowran Park, took second placed money again at 2/1 for Kevin Prendergast and Chris Hayes in this seven furlong two-year-old maiden. He was backed from 11/4 this morning.
It was a further five and a half lengths back to Iniesta in third on his first racecourse appearance for Aidan and Joseph O’Brien.
Club Wexford’s last two runs had come in Listed company when second to Coach House at the Curragh and third to Stubbs at Naas.
Kevin Manning added on Club Wexford: "He had experience and form. I got a nice easy lead in front."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
