Shabaaby and Donagh O'Connor (nearest)© Photo Healy Racing
Shabaaby swooped late to land the spoils in the opening five furlong handicap at Dundalk this afternoon.
The Johnny Levins-trained gelding was running in the bottom grade of 47-65 handicaps for the first time in his career.
Donagh O'Connor conjured a strong run from the 15/2 shot (14/1 this morning) inside the final furlong as he grabbed Betrayed in the last 50 yards. Zig Zag Zyggy also finished well to grab the runner-up spot, half a length back.
It was a fifth career victory for the eight-year-old Kyllachy gelding, who was listed placed as a three-year-old and had a career high mark of 109.
Levins said: "He had dropped down in the handicap late in the summer and it has given him a chance to drop into that grade.
"It didn't look the strongest of races and Donagh was in a lovely little winning position, pulled out at the right time and was just idling away there in front.
"I'm very pleased for David (Spratt, owner) and it is great to get the season off to a winner.
"It was a strong-run race and at that level it was always going to be a bit of a collapse. As I said, Donagh was in the winning position to come off a fast pace.
“Our fella is very, very fast and when he is on song and runs a little bit behind the bridle, he finishes out his races really well.
"There has been times he has run too keen and doesn't get home. A fast-run pace is what he needs. He comes to the fore then."
On Prisoner's Dilemma who runs in Meydan this evening, he said: "It is his first run, we decided to run him off the plane. We will see where we are at with him and how he has acclimatised.
"He has been hit with the burden of the coffin draw (stall one), so hopefully he passes a few and hits the line strong."
(Quotes by Michael Graham)
