Kilganer Queen and Jonathan Burke beats Fintara (left)© Photo Healy Racing
The Denis O'Shea-trained Kilganer Queen sprang a 20/1 shock when bouncing back to form in the two-mile three-furlong handicap chase at Wexford tonight. Lakemilan tried to stretch his field in the 0-116 event and was clear at halfway. He had a reduced advantage turning for home and was joined over the last by Kilganer Queen.
Johnny Burke drove his mount into the lead on the run to the line and she had enough up her sleeve to hold the late charge of Fintara by a length.
The winner had finished mid-division at Limerick on her last outing, last month, having been pulled up previously at Punchestown. She had been a winner at Limerick earlier in April.
O'Shea said:- "I'm delighted for Johnny. He actually got me my first winner a couple of years ago, and I rent my yard from Johnny's father Liam. They are a great family and have been such a help to me ever since I started training.
"Johnny gave her a super ride, because she wasn't really ever travelling. She probably does want further and the track probably didn't suit her. It's great that it worked out in the end.
"She has won five for me now and has also won a point-to-point. She has black-type and she is brilliant. She has a great owner (Michael Mee) who is very supportive of me.
"If there was something in Galway for her we would like to go there. She is a little bit claustrophobic so I'm not sure whether it would suit her. Like any good woman, she likes her own space!
"We'll pick something out for her in two or three weeks time. She is actually a pleasure to have and we bought her relatively cheap after she won her point-to-point."
(Quotes by Donal Murphy)
