The grey Clear Quartz gets up close home to beat Monasterboice © Photo Healy Racing
Clear Quartz (7/2 from 7s) registered his third course and distance win at Galway, as he provided Mark Fahey with further success in the Donnellys Of Barna Rated Race.
Slow away from the stalls, the Jean Bird-owned grey, who won at the festival in July, recovered quickly and soon improved into mid-division under Ronan Whelan.
A bit short of room on the inner approaching the straight, the Slade Power seven-year-old was soon angled to the outer and was ridden from the furlong pole.
Improving into second inside the final 100 yards, he stayed on strongly from there, getting up close home to prevail by half-a-length.
Bidding to complete a four-timer, the Noel Meade-trained Monasterboice (3/1f) was the one just denied, while San Aer (9/2) was another two-lengths away in third.
"He doesn't help himself as he gets wound up in the stalls but Ronnie (Ronan Whelan) was brilliant on him and was magic again. He is a brilliant jockey everywhere but especially around here and went down the inside and didn't panic," Fahey, who was recording his 14th winner since May, enthused.
"The horse just loves this place and if there is a race for him here in October, he'll definitely run and we'd love to come back next year for the festival. He is a tremendous horse, Jean loves him and we love him at home as well."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
