Darren Collins with Sayitfirst© Photo Healy Racing
Sayitfirst provided Co Galway trainer Darren Collins with his first track success, as she battled gamely to win the Extra Place Races At Novibet Mares Handicap Hurdle.
Based in Monivea, Co Galway, Collins saddled his first runner at Clonmel in June and hit the crossbar at Listowel recently, with Dontdooddson filling the runner-up spot behind Atimetodream.
Third and fourth on recent starts at Bellewstown and Navan respectively, Sayitfirst was sent off a 13/2 chance this afternoon and raced mainly in second under Paddy O'Hanlon.
The daughter of Sageburg improved to the dispute the lead with front-running Banada Bridge (10/3f) on the approach to two out and while she gained a narrow lead before the last, she needed to be ridden out on the run-in, holding off the game effort of the market leader by half-a-length.
The front pair were five lengths clear of C'est Rien (16/1) and Michael O'Sullivan in third.
"That’s my first winner and I got the licence about four months ago," Collins revealed.
"We had point-to-pointers before that and had a few winners. The main one was Flooring Porter’s mother (Lillymile, back in 2010).
"I spent some time with Joseph O'Brien and I've been in yards around Galway. We've always had horses at home.
"We have four in training and three of them have been placed. We also have another five pre-training .
"We were worried about that ground but this mare battled on well so it's great."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Raceday Stewards fined Norman Lee, trainer, E65 for fitting cheek pieces to Fanta Magic which had not been declared and ordered their removal.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
