James McAuley and his uncle James Gough scored with Qasbaz at Navan. © Photo Healy Racing
The James McAuley trained Qasbaz turned Division l of the Navan Racing Festival November 18 & 19th Handicap into an absolute rout under jockey Shane Foley.
Well backed from 5/1 into half those odds, the six-year-old was produced on the near side early in the straight before quickening up in impressive fashion to go right away and win easing down by four lengths.
The former English trained gelding was recording his first success in this country, having reached the winners' enclosure on two occasions for previous connections.
Having run at Dundalk over the winter months, the Make Believe gelding showed improvement since switching to turn, running his best race to date last time when a close third at Bellewstown.
James McAuley, “We bought him last year but he’s taken a long time to find his feet. The last couple of runs he’s been finishing out his races well but getting himself too far back.
“He could have easily won at Bellewstown and Jake (Coen) thought he hit the front too soon over a trip that was probably too far so I wouldn’t be too critical of Jake.
“I gave him a breeze yesterday and I thought if he handled the ground today he’d be hard to beat. He’s really come to himself in the last couple of weeks.
“Shane said he actually enjoyed the ground.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee.
