The white-faced Sassaway comes home in front under Fergal Lynch© Photo Healy Racing
Fergal Lynch recorded his first winner since returning from injury, as he took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap on the Eamonn O’Connell trained Sassaway
Lynch fractured his collarbone at Limerick on June 21st, when his mount, Beat The Bell was brought down, and he only returned to action on the Friday of the Galway Festival.
Sassaway, who is six-year-old daughter of Bertolini, has been a revelation this season, and she was recording her fourth win this afternoon.
Sent off at 8/1, she was prominent throughout, hitting the front over a furlong from home, and staying on well from there to score by a length and three parts. So Devoted finished second at 9/1 under Pat Smullen for Bill Farrell, while the 7/2 favourite, Penny Serenade finished a head back in third under Shane Foley for Eddie Lynam.
Eamonn O’Connell said afterwards: "I thought she ran a great race in Tipperary against the geldings (finished fifth there on Friday to An Saighdiur).
"She came out of it well and we said we’d let her take her chance today. I’m very happy with her.
"That is my first runner in the Curragh and it’s actually the first time I’ve been here. I’ve no real plans for her."
The winner is owned by the Liiimerick Syndicate, which is made up of three Limerick hurlers, Shane Dowling, Gavin O'Mahony and Seanie Tobin.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
