Ceylon and Robbie Burke © Photo Healy Racing
Well travelled Robbie Burke rode his first winner in Ireland in almost six years when steering the Patrick Prendergast trained Ceylon to win the Kennedy's Bar Sligo Handicap at Sligo today.
Burke, who has been Champion Jockey in Mauritius and Macau, had been riding overseas for much of the past decade and was last successful in Ireland in August 2009 on Miss Minnies.
The rider had previously partnered Ceylon to finish second on his 'comeback' ride at Limerick in April and the pair today improved on that placing when beating Dancingwithangels by four and three parts of a length win.
Afterwards Prendergast stated "I'm delighted! Robbie is riding out for me and he's a very nice horseman and a very nice guy.
"She's been second a good few times but is very genuine and was just a bit unlucky. She goes well on soft ground."
Burke himself said "I rode this horse in Limerick and previous to that my last ride in Ireland was in 2009. It's great to be back on home soil and riding a winner."
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee
