Persian edges a thriller Just five lined up for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery but the €30,000 event provided a thrilling finish with Persian Caliph just getting up in the final strides. The Jessica Harrington-trained gelding opened his account in a six-furlong maiden here earlier this month, and coped well with this drop back to the minimum trip. Sign From Heaven appeared to be travelling best early in the straight and led over a furlong out but was soon strongly pressed by the Anamoine-owned son of Intikhab. Shane Foley got a generous response from Persian Caliph to just touch off fellow 3/1 chance Sign From Heaven by a nose. The 5/2 favourite Celtic Man kept on at the same pace a further length and a quarter back in third. Foley said, “He’s done it here before and is all heart. They went a good gallop and he grinded it out well.”
