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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Dali takes the feature Midsummer Sprint Stakes

Mon 18th Jun 2018, 19:15

Dali & Donnacha O'Brien pictured on their way to victoryDali & Donnacha O'Brien pictured on their way to victory
© Photo Healy Racing

The Aidan O'Brien trained Dali took the feature at Naas this evening, the Listed Midsummer Sprint Stakes.

Successful over the course and distance last May, the son of Scat Daddy went down by just a head in a valuable handicap at the Curragh on his most recent outing.

Sent off a joint-favourite at 9/4 this evening, he got to the front after a furlong, and was ridden with a furlong and a half left to race, keeping on well from there to score by two lengths.

UK raider Mirza (11/1) finished second under Kevin Manning for Rae Guest, while Snowstar (8/1) was another length and a quarter back in third with Billy Lee aboard for Willie McCreery. Son Of Rest (backed from 3s on-course) was the other joint-favourite, and he finished fourth.

"He had a good run the last day and was maybe slightly unlucky," the winning rider said.

"It's nice to get a win into him and he did it nicely in the end.

"He bends his knee a little bit so he gets through soft ground but he doesn't stay very far so I think that's why he's probably better on quick ground.

"He's getting it together and five furlongs suits him, he has plenty of pace."

On Royal Ascot he added: "It's the biggest week in the calendar so I'm looking forward to it."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
9/4JFav
Tote €2.60 €1.02
2nd
2L
11/1
€2.30
3rd
1.25L
8/1
€2.40
4th
2.5L
9/4JFav
About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.