Noel Meade© Photo Healy Racing
The featured Bar One Racing.com Download The App Handicap at Dundalk saw Sheisdiesel (11/2) gain further admirers with her fourth win in succession at the County Louth venue.
Again under Colin Keane Noel Meade's chestnut raced in the rear of mid-division, and she travelled well and was switched right under two furlongs out.
Making headway from there Sheisdiesel edged left to lead over a furlong out, keeping on well inside the final furlong to defeat Pearl Of The West and well-supported joint favourite Chaparral Dream by a length and a quarter and half a length.
Said Meade in the aftermath: “She's been a bit of a revelation. It's incredible the way she's improved since the trip was stretched and she is better over a mile-and-a-half than she even was over a mile-and-a-quarter.
“Today she grabbed a hold of the bridle and ran a little free early. There wasn't as good a gallop as usual and you think that maybe things aren't working out for her but Colin said the minute he turned in and squeezed she picked up really well for him.
“I suppose we'll come back here again, I don't see any reason to go anywhere else. You keep thinking when is it going to stop, it'll stop alright but she's been a great little bit of stuff.
“All I can do is go down on my knees and thank God that I'm not standing here looking at her winning for someone else.
“Colin said she'd nearly get two miles the way she goes now.
“She's very small and I don't know, if when we get to the end of it, we'd think about going jumping. She's tiny and you'd sort of wonder would she do that.
“There's nothing in our place that doesn't jump at some stage but she never has. We never really looked at her in that light.
“She'd want fast ground on the grass wherever she goes. She's never won on the turf.”
The Stewards interviewed Amy O'Hanlon, rider of Pearl Of The West, concerning her use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that Amy O'Hanlon was in breach of R10(3)(g) by using her whip with her arm above shoulder height. Having taken her previous record into consideration, the Stewards suspended Amy O'Hanlon for three racedays.
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Chess Grand Master (GB), trained by Joseph Patrick O'Brien, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
(GC & EM)
