Equitant (far side)© Photo Healy Racing
The market proved correct for the Floodlit Friday Nights Rated Race at Dundalk this evening as the Joseph O'Brien trained Equitant flip-flopped to favouritism ahead of stablemate Dramatise before eventually winning under in-form jockey Shane Crosse.
Dramatise, a winner on debut at Fairyhouse in September, was installed the 6/4 morning favourite but, returning from a 53-day break, drifted markedly all day to a SP of 11/4. Eventual winner Equitant on the other hand had won at Chelmsford just 22 days ago and, on his first start for O'Brien, shortened from 100/30 'early doors' to 2/1 first-show on track, before returning a heavily backed 6/4 favourite.
In the race, Equitant raced prominently and eventually wore down leader Mr Ormsby in the closing stages to record a head win. Dramatise was never in contention and was well held in fifth.
Damian Byrne, O'Brien's travelling head lad, later reported “he only arrived with us two weeks ago and was bought at the sales; Richard Fahey had him previously.
“Shane said he did it well and was getting on top at the end. He won over a mile in Chelmsford the last day so he stays well. He’ll definitely be coming back here again over the winter.”
Equitant was recouping some of his owner Nasir Askar's 80,000 guineas outlay at the recent Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale with today's E7,392 first prize while jockey Crosse was himself completing a double on the day to move to five winners clear of Conor Hoban (7-2) in the early stages of the Jockeys' Championship Winter Series.
Quotes from Alan Magee
