Queen Khaleesi© Photo Healy Racing
Paddy Neville expressed his frustration with the training scene at Killarney today as the trainer landed the three runner Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle with Queen Khaleesi under jockey Cathal Landers.
Long-odds on morning favourite Just Janice was taken out lame at 9am and in the end Queen Khaleesi comfortably made all to beat Sinndar Sandy by 19 lengths.
Following the race a relieved Neville stated “that was lovely and she went around again! She is a very consistent mare and I can't say she was running bad as she had been running well but was just getting caught.
“I knew in the past week that she was seriously well and those are her conditions. She was unlucky not to win a few days and it's great to win today as it was a big pot of money and to win in Killarney, we love it!”
The Co Limerick handler added “It's badly wanted as it is some struggle. I've had 25 seconds recently without a winner and couldn't get a winner and it'd get you down.
“I've a list of horses that fellows have walked away from and training is so difficult at the moment. I've 10 or 12 horses but three quarters of them are my own, which is a bad job.
“I don't know what to do but small trainers need a lift; everyone is getting paid bar me and I can't get young owners into horses.
“I'm in it and staying at it but the mathematics don't add up and it's costing me the same money as it is for the big trainers to get a license and it should be categorised for a fellow with 10 horses, or less, to pay less.
“The whole country is in the same boat and while there was always pressure in racing, but fellows don't have the money any more and I can't sell racing to them.”
“We're surviving away but that's the reality.”
