Sr Cartage (centre) just beats Cillian's Return (left) and Takeachanceonme© Photo Healy Racing
We hadn't seen Sr Cartage since October, but she was strong in the market this morning to shed the maiden tag on start two. Her trainer, Jim Bolger, is a formidable force anywhere, but particularly at his local track in Gowran, and the Sea The Stars filly duly got the job done, but only just, in the Gowran Park Golf Club-titled mile event.
Kevin Manning, in the famous Mick Ryan silks, forced Sr Cartage (evens) just ahead of front-running Cillian's Return inside the final furlong.
Ross Coakley was without the aid of his stick on the challenging Takeachanceonme in the final furlong, and in the end Sr Cartage triumphed by a nose and half a length from Cillian's Return and the former.
Bolger travelling head man Ger Flynn said: "I was down the track at the furlong and a half mark so I didn't know, but in fairness to Jerry Hannon (commentator) when he calls your name first you know you are in with a good chance.
"Kevin said that she handled the track okay, he said that the ground is very heavy, very testing, it's probably not ideal for any flat horse, but he said she stuck at it well and she probably wants to go a little bit further.
"We will see how she comes out of the race and maybe step her up for something nicer. She has got a fantastic pedigree so the maiden win is important to her and we might try and get a bit of black-type for her later." (DM & EM)
