El Astronaute gives Quinn a winner on home soil County Tipperary native John Quinn enjoyed a win on home soil when his El Astronaute landed the Listed Matchbook Straight Midsummer Sprint Stakes at Cork. Quinn sent the Ross Harmon Racing-owned El Astronaute over from his Malton North Yorkshire base and he got the job done under Jason Hart. The 11/4 favourite prevailed by three parts of a length and half a length from Smash Williams and Ardhoomey. "He is a tough hardy horse and there is one thing he likes doing and that is to bowl along. He is a horse who makes it very easy and blitzes them off from the start," reported Hart. "He won a Listed race today with a penalty and who knows we could step him back up (in company) now. He handles all types of ground and for a sprinter he is pretty consistent and is a pleasure to have anything to do with." The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer reported to the Stewards that St Patrick's Day (USA) trained by A.P.O'Brien was found to be lame on the right fore having pulled a shoe. (TW & EM)
