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Tom Weekes

Tom Weekes

Dias enjoys another 'great day' with Winemaker

Sat 3rd Jun 2023, 16:40

Winemaker and Gavin RyanWinemaker and Gavin Ryan
© Photo Healy Racing

Brazilian Diego Dias registered a first winner with his second runner as a trainer today, landing Listowel's Shay Rooney Handicap with his lucky horse Winemaker (13/2).

Ridden prominently by Gavin Ryan, the Johnny Barnes-gelding quickened clear of 11 rivals in the straight, scoring by three lengths from Linger For Longer

Winemaker was a debut winner at Naas last August for then owner Dias, who later revealed he and friends enjoyed a 'touch' in backing the 100/1 winner.

Today delighted Dias stated “that's my first winner and my second runner and my other runner finished second last week. I received my license a month ago and have been in Ireland for 20 years, doing breeze-up horses.

“It was a good feeling and nice to have the first winner.”

He added “this is only a Plan B for horses which don't sell at the breeze-ups and it gives them another chance. I bought this horse and he won first-time up when Jimmy Coogan trained him for me.

“I am from Minas Gerais (population 22m) in Brazil, rode there and also rode a couple of winners in Ireland. I have six horses which didn't sell at the breeze-ups to run on the track and this horse is for sale so I've no plan in mind - we'll will see how he is.”

Speaking last August, Dias revealed to Thoroughbred Daily News he “got Winemaker at 150-1 (at Naas) but the bookies only let me have 29 euros each-way that morning. I waited a couple of hours and they let me put another 30 euros each-way and then, just before the off, I had one more good bet at odds of 100-1.

“What's even better was, my partner Hannah was at the track with a few friends. One of them, a Brazilian girl, knows nothing about racing but went up and had 20 euros to win at 100-1. She won two grand and was over the moon. It was a great day.”

1st
13/2
Tote €7.70 €2.30
2nd
3L
20/1
€5.00
3rd
nose
9/1
€3.50
4th
0.5L
5/2Fav
About Tom Weekes
A lifelong racing fan, Tom began writing point to point reports in 2002 and has reported for irishracing.com since 2003, when he joined Irish Racing Services - since taken over by the Press Association. Has ridden a point to point winner and won the 2018 Irish Field Naps Table.