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Port Sunlight delights Harzand connections

Port Sunlight collars Even SoPort Sunlight collars Even So
© Photo Healy Racing

Port Sunlight overwhelmed Even So in the closing stages of the juvenile fillies' maiden in Gowran Park.

The daughter of Harzand was slowly away from the gates just as she was before finishing fourth on debut at Navan in August.

The easy to back 9/4 favourite raced towards the rear from her high draw and took closer order on the outer approaching the home bend.

Oisin Orr kept her to the stands' side in the straight and the pair motored into contention at the furlong marker.

She strongly challenged the leader Even So (3/1 from 9/2) and got the better of her in the final 100 yards. From there she readily strode away by three lengths to oblige for Dermot Weld. Create Belief completed the placings a further length and a half away at 25/1.

Assistant trainer Kris Weld said: “It's lovely to have a two-year-old winner by Harzand, it's a special win for us.

“She's a lovely filly, she had a lovely run at Navan and has put that to good use and won very nicely today.

“She's going to be a nice filly next year, going a mile-and-a-quarter and probably a mile-and-a-half. She has the making of a really lovely three-year-old.

“We're delighted to have a winner by Harzand.”

Harzand won the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby for the Weld team in 2016.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
9/4Fav
Tote €2.60 €1.02
2nd
3L
3/1
€1.80
3rd
1.5L
25/1
€6.60
4th
2.75L
50/1
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.