Matt Connor beats Picture Of A City © Photo Healy Racing
The form of Matt Connor s win at Cork on his previous start had worked out well and the 3/1 favourite followed up in the 1m2f handicap for three-year-olds.
Bill Lee tracked the leaders on the Teofilo gelding who was travelling well in third on the home turn. In front a furlong out, the Henry de Bromhead-trained winner kept on well in the colours of the Patocallagahanracing Syndicate to beat Picture Of A City by a length and a half.
“He did it well and he's improved from Cork,” said Lee.
“He travelled lovely today, I thought we went a nice even gallop. They've done a lovely job on the ground, it's riding beautiful out there.
“He travelled everywhere, he took me well into the straight and he picked up, I was just biding my time.
“I thought in Cork that he was a little bit green in front and he was a little bit like that again with me today and was rolling around with me but he galloped well to the line.
“He'll have no bother going a mile-and-a-half and he's improving away so long may it last.
“I wanted a lead as long as possible but I had to send him on about his business and to be fair when he got there I knew he was always going to win.
“He'll go a mile-and-a-half no problem and he'll maybe jump a hurdle down the line. He's an exciting one for the lads to have.
“Matt Connor (a brilliant Offaly footballer in the late 1970s/early 80s) is actually there today. I was told all about him lately, he was one of the best footballers around so it was nice to meet him.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
