Independent Expert (nearside) just beating Tawny Coster (right) and Queen's Pardon© Photo Healy Racing
Independent Expert just came out best for Andy Slattery and Cian Horgan following a tremendous finish to the Treacy Group Irish EBF Fillies Handicap at the Curragh.
The 12/1 chance was never too far from the pace in this seven-furlong event and after narrowly relinquishing the lead over a furlong out, rallied gamely to just the land the spoils.
Horgan’s mount had a head to spare over the fast-finishing Tawny Coster with Queen’s Pardon holding every chance just a head further back in third.
Slattery’s brother and assistant trainer Willie said, “It’s easy to say it now but I thought it would be hard for the favourite (Perfect Thunder, finished fourth) to give her nearly two stone.
“Cian is a good rider and works hard. We let them ride them when we can. When Jake (Coen) went to Joseph (O’Brien) then Cian came to work for us.
“The horses are in good form and hopefully it will continue. We’ll keep this filly to three-year-old handicaps for the moment and see how we get on.
“She was unlucky in Cork the last day when she got caught in behind horses.”
