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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Gonne returns with win at Gowran

Sat 17th Sep 2022, 13:50

Maud Gonne Spirit (far side) beats Pretty Rebel (nearest) and Marcher Lord (centre) Maud Gonne Spirit (far side) beats Pretty Rebel (nearest) and Marcher Lord (centre)
© Photo Healy Racing

Maud Gonne Spirit defied a 335-day absence to make a winning return in the opening seven-furlong conditions race at Gowran Park this afternoon.

The Jessica Harrington-trained filly was last seen finishing fourth in Listed company at Naas last October.

She went to post an 11/2 shot today and was produced with a strong run by Shane Foley inside the final furlong.

The Intello mare got on top in the closing stages to post a neck victory over Pretty Rebel

The runner-up, sent off 6/4 favourite, looked a touch unlucky having been knocked off her stride a furlong out when the front-running Marcher Lord drifted left.

Harrington said of the winner afterwards:- “That's great, she's nearly a year off the track because of the ground. I haven't been able to run her all year.

“She was slow to come to hand in the spring and I didn't get to run her when we had a little bit of ease in the ground.

“I've been sitting waiting and took her out at Punchestown the other day.

“I have her in at Tipperary in a couple of weeks (Group 3 Concorde Stakes) and I'm just hoping for rain. She loves the soft ground.

“She was fourth in a listed race last year and she's shown that she hasn't lost it, which is a great thing.”

1st
11/2
Tote €6.60 €1.60
2nd
nk
6/4Fav
€1.10
3rd
nk
9/2
€1.80
4th
nk
9/1
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.