Sean Davis gets Beach Wedding up far side to touch off Prove The Point© Photo Healy Racing
Beach Wedding (Sean Davis up) swamped Prove The Point late to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap at Gowran.
Prove The Point had looked the likely winner when leading from a furlong and a half out, but she was eventually upstaged by Beach Wedding. Half a length split them at the line.
The many supporters of the Dermot Weld yard endured a tough evening.
Declan McDonogh couldn’t secure a clear passage and frustratingly for favourite backers 5/4 shot Knowing You ended up fourth of the eight.
"He's a good jockey and she was out of the handicap so his 5lb claim helped her. She is very tough, very consistent and her runs were good last year. Maybe she was over the top on her last run," said winning trainer Johnny Murtagh.
"It's a nice pot to win and she's a nice filly to have. She was a three-year-old going in against the older horses but I thought it was worth a chance off a light weight. Hopefully she can improve through the year."
N.G. McCullagh, rider of Extrasensory trained by Mrs John Harrington, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount lost her action and struggled.
The Stewards enquired into the running and riding of Knowing You, ridden by D.P. McDonogh, and trained by D. K. Weld. Evidence was heard from the rider and trainer concerned. D.P. McDonogh, stated that his instructions were to jump off handy in the first three or four early on. He felt he was off the bridle for most of the race and struggled on the ground, running on past tired horses at the finish. He added she got squeezed for room a furlong and a half out, which did not help. In addition he added that the filly felt lethargic. D. K. Weld, stated that she was carrying top weight on todays ground which was not ideal. He asked the rider to hold on to her a bit to get home. They had decided prior to the race to come wide in the straight for better ground. He felt D.P. McDonogh could have of been harder on the filly and in his opinion this was not his best ride. The Stewards also received a report from the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer who stated that the filly was post race normal. Samples were also taking for analysis. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards noted Mr. Welds explanation, however they found D.P. McDonogh in breach of Rule 212A(ii) and therefore suspended him from riding for 5 racedays and also ordered that he forfeit his riding fee.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Knowing You, trained by D. K. Weld, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
(AM & EM)
