Moonmeister is driven out by Michael Hussey to beat Botanical Lady© Photo Healy Racing
Moonmeister sprang a 33/1 surprise in the Sean Rothwell Construction Handicap, scoring on his first start for Gordon Elliott having been previously trained by Joanna Morgan.
The three-year-old son of Mastercraftsman showed very little on his four starts last year and having broken slowly he was settled towards rear by Michael Hussey.
He made good headway on the inside to take closer order from two furlongs out and he came under pressure inside the two furlong pole.
He got a nice run through on the inner to lead inside the final 100 yards and he kept on well from there to score by half a length. Botanical Lady ran on well on the outer to take second under Leigh Roche for Harry Rogers at 8/1 while Fix It was a further length and a half back in third under Niall McCullagh for Johnny Murtagh at 12/1. Caliso Bay was sent off the 5/1 favourite under Connor King for George Kent but she could only manage a very disappointing eleventh.
Gordon Elliott said afterwards: "It wasn't really a surprise. I’d say he wants further but I’d say he'd win again on the flat. He will be a good horse to go three-year-old hurdling with.
"He was with Mickey Maguire, Jason’s father, for a while and he had a lot of problems and he broke his pelvis.
"He has schooled over hurdles and he jumps well. He jumps slickly."
Elliott went on to mention Quarton who is due to run at Bellewstown tomorrow having finished second at the Co Meath venue on Friday.
He said: "I'll see how he is in the morning before deciding whether to run him or not."
The winner is out of Moon Unit who was a great servant to Harry Rogers and owner Paula Davison (also owns Moonmeister), winning six times one of which was a Group Three while another four were in Listed class.
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
