Trainer Ray Cody © Photo Healy Racing
Highland Penny made all for a convincing win in the Kilmeaden Mares Maiden Hurdle at Tramore.
Jack Foley jumped out in front on the Ray Cody-trained mare in the two-mile-five contest and she found plenty in the closing stages.
The daughter of Doyen, a 11/2 shot, picked up well when asked for an effort at the penultimate flight and stretched away late on to post a 10-length win over Shannon Glory
The winner had been knocking on the door and had been placed twice in handicap company.
Cody said afterwards:- “She has loads of ability but it's just getting it out of her.
“We left the blinkers off her the last day and Denis (O'Regan) came back in and said to put them back on her as she didn't do a stroke.
“He said he should have rode her handier as she just lost interest but it wasn't his fault as she had no blinkers on her. Denis would have rode her today but I think he's having surgery done on his back.
“The plan wasn't to make it, we told him to be good and handy, but Jack said there was no pace and she was in his hands so he may as well doddle away in front.
“He just had to fill her up and she loved it. They came to her at the second last but he said once he gave her a dig in the belly and grabbed hold of her she took off again.
“I fancied her in Cork but when we got there and I saw the ground I was fairly worried. She got bogged down in the ground and wants nice ground.
“She's a mare that will jump a fence as well. I'm delighted for the owners Rhona and Paddy, they are really good to me and they are good friends as well. That's their first winner for me.
“She'll probably go back handicapping, she's probably not badly handicapped off 98. I didn't think that would be good enough to win a maiden hurdle but it probably wasn't a strong race.”
