Water Sprite © Photo Healy Racing
The Gordon Elliott-trained Automated was all the rage in the finale at Galway tonight but it was stable-mate Water Sprite who ran out a cosy winner in the end in the Caulfieldindustrial.com Handicap.
Support for Automated saw him go to post the 11/4 favourite for the two-mile contest having traded at 15/2 this morning.
12/1 shot Water Sprite settled toward the rear for Michael Hussey before making rapid headway to lead on the rail over two furlongs from home.
The daughter of Papal Bull soon kicked a few lengths clear and although Artful Artist stayed on to reduce the advantage inside the final furlong he could only get within a length-and-a-quarter of the winner, who had a bit up her sleeve.
Automated kept on inside the final furlong to finish third, four-and-a-quarter length further back.
The winner had shown some fine form over hurdles last season, including when sixth in Grade Two company at Cheltenham.
Ollie Murphy, assistant to Gordon Elliott, said:- "We were a bit worried that she wouldn't stay the trip. We thought she was well handicapped but whether she was well enough handicapped to win at Galway was another thing.
"She was bought cheaply and has given the lads a lot of fun. A few of them are locals, one lad has come over from Germany and one rides out for us.
"Michael gave her a fantastic ride, and rode her with plenty of confidence."
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
