Iolani and Declan McDonogh© Photo Healy Racing
Former Champion Jockey Declan McDonogh registered a treble at Gowran today, managing the feat in the concluding races and completing the task in the finale, the Music After Racing September 16th Maiden, on the Willie Mullins trained Iolani
Bumper winner Iolani had been beaten at odds of 100/30, 9/10, even money and latterly at 5/1, when falling at Bellewstown on Friday, but today appeared to show improvement in his first flat start, which was also just his second start on soft ground, and a first since his February debut run.
The son of Don Cossack’s sire Sholokhov arrived travelling well early in the home straight and McDonogh, earlier successful on Upgraded and Birds Of Prey eventually kept the gelding going for a two lengths win over Great Tango.
Mullins wasn’t present but McDonogh later stated “I rang Ruby and he said to hold on to him but I got there a bit soon. He's a nice type of horse and handled the ground well."
Quotes from Alan Magee
