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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Blackmore shines on Eagle to land first Listed success

Wed 17th Jun 2020, 19:27

Oriental Eagle and Rachael Blackmore Oriental Eagle and Rachael Blackmore
© Photo Healy Racing

Rachael Blackmore partnered her first Listed winner on the Flat at Limerick this evening when Oriental Eagle defied a big market drift in the featured Martin Molony Stakes.

Emmet Mullins' charge went to post the 18/1 outsider of the field in the mile-and-a-half contest having been as short as 11/2 in the morning.

The German import was making his third start for Mullins and had been well-beaten behind Nickajack Cave in the Levmoss Stakes on his return at Leopardstown on Sunday.

He left that form well behind as he took over from front-runner Bold Approach passing the two pole today and scooted clear before the furlong marker.

The son Campanologist tended to hang in a touch but galloped on strongly in the closing stages to record a length success. Pondus stayed on into the runner-up spot having found trouble in running over a furlong from home. 5/6 favourite Simsir proved a disappointment, finishing last of the five.

"That was a bit more like it and we have a bit of hope again,” said Mullins.

“I was very disappointed leaving Leopardstown on Sunday but I decided to leave the tongue-tie off today and he seems a happier horse, although he hung again today.

"He has taken a long time to figure out and I'd say we still have more to learn.

"The horse which made the running today was a big help getting him to relax. He'll be exciting going forward. He has schooled over hurdles and has schooled well so we have all options."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)

1st
18/1
Tote €17.90 €3.20
2nd
1L
5/2
€1.20
3rd
nk
10/1
4th
0.5L
15/2
bf
1.25L
5/6Fav
About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.