Purring Along © Photo Healy Racing
Purring Along fairly scooted up the hill to win the seven-furlong handicap in great style under Nathan Crosse.
Owned by Michelle Shannon and trained by Shane Duffy, the daughter of Urban Poet raced in mid-division and got a good run through on the inner in the dip. The 7/2 chance, a winner at Cork in May, led over a furlong out before striding clear to score by five lengths from Mercurial
Errill Co Laois-based Duffy, who also saddled third home Talking Tough and fifth-placed Phoenix Open said: "that was super and she was working the best she ever has in the past week. We kept her fresh and sweet, brought her to the beach the other day and I don't think I ever saw a horse as fresh on the beach!
"It was a good omen but she hadn't run for a few weeks as she gave herself a nick one day out in the paddock and it set us back a bit. On form she deserved it and easy ground and a good pace was a big help. Nathan also gave her a cracking ride."
He added "we only have five horses in and I've never had three runners on one day, never mind in one race! However they were all fresh and well so we said we'd run them.
"I have great owners - Michelle (Shannon) and David (Mooney, partner) are fantastic and Garry Fleming is a dream to have. Garry is so big into racing, loves to see his horses running and his two ran well and it was good to see Phoenix Open coming back."
Quotes from Tom Weekes
