Power Drive (near side) and Declan McDonogh beating Eos© Photo Healy Racing
Power Drive caused a 25/1 shock on his handicap debut when getting up close home in the BBQ Evening July 25th Handicap at Naas.
The Charles O’Brien-trained gelding was friendless in the market after showing little in three previous maiden outings and was given an initial mark of 59 in this three-year-old event. Roses Queen ensured a strong pace and had her ten rivals well strung out before halfway in this 1m2f contest.
The front-runner was only reeled in inside the final quarter mile, and the Declan McDonogh-ridden Power Drive just proved the stronger over Eos in the closing stages to score by a neck. Cache Queen came home well to finish another three quarters of a length back in third.
O’Brien said, “We were a bit worried there wasn’t going to be any pace before the race because he wants every inch of this and will definitely go further. He hopped off that ground and we’ll make hay while the sun is shining.
“I wouldn’t be afraid to go a mile and a half or a mile and six with him. He’d make a nice summer hurdler too, although he hasn’t left the ground yet.”
