Almadaa recorded his ninth career success as he took the BBQ Evening Wednesday August 12th Handicap under Connor King for David Marnane and owners the Western Partnership.

Available at 9/1 this morning the eight-year-old son of Exceed And Excel proved friendless with punters and went off a 16/1 chance.

Sent straight into the lead he was ridden under two furlongs out and kept on well under pressure inside the final furlong, going on to score by a length and a quarter. Cruidin (14/1), who swished her tail in the closing stages, ran on well to take second under Kevin Manning for Jim Bolger while Hatton Cross (8/1) was three and a quarter lengths back in third under Wayne Lordan for Thomond O'Mara. Firecrown was the big disappointment of the race. The John Oxx trained filly was sent off the 8/11 favourite but she found little when ridden and finished fourth.

Connor King said afterwards: "I've won on him before (his fifth win aboard the gelding) but he never won over seven furlongs so that was a bit of a question mark. He did it well and he got the trip well."