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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Dawn Mirage clearly in good form

Tue 30th Jun 2015, 18:46

Dawn Mirage makes all in Gowran ParkDawn Mirage makes all in Gowran Park
© Photo Healy Racing

Again the two horses that raced prominently from the gate - Dawn Mirage and Peace Mission - took control of proceedings with the former landing plenty of bets in the mile maiden for three-year-olds and older.

David Wachman 's colt was backed throughout the day from 9/2 to 11/4 before going off 2/1 favourite at the track.

He was visored for the first time and pinged out of stall five to lead under Wayne Lordan. Peace Mission, from a wider stall in 11, was brought across by Gary Carroll into second place. Rock Montjeu and Aqua Regia raced third and fourth respectively with U S Navy Seal fifth.

This order was maintained at the halfway stage but entering the home straight Dawn Mirage was given the office by Lordan. Peace Mission battled on in second and was less than a length down at the two pole.

Dawn Mirage stayed on strongly inside the final furlong though, and galloped on to win by two and a half lengths. Peace Mission kept at it in second at 66/1. This was her first sighting of a racecourse.

U S Navy Seal (11/4) moved into a never threatening third at the furlong pole. He had been off track for 383 days.

Wayne Lordan said: "He had a couple of nice runs early on but then he weakened off. He is after coming back this year and he has strengthened up. He has done it well and he is a lovely horse.

"The ground was perfect for him and the trip was perfect for him. I think that is his ideal trip. He is after filling out. He was a tall, narrow horse."

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy

1st
2/1Fav
Tote €3.10 €1.02
2nd
2.5L
66/1
€8.80
3rd
2L
11/4
€2.00
4th
2L
125/1
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.