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Michael Graham
Last-gasp success for Recollection
Recollection, near side, wins a thriller in Tramore
© Photo Healy Racing
You would be hard pushed to see a better finish to a race than the one that took place in Tramore's fillies' maiden. No less than four horses strove to get their head in front close home but it was Recollection who swooped on the outside for Shane Foley at the end of a mile and a half.
The Lawman filly was off the bridle at the half way point when racing in fourth behind the leader Marie Celeste Faseena and Nicaragua However, she kept finding for pressure and still held her place at the three pole.
Faseena picked up the lead racing to the home turn with Our Rachael making good headway to challenge on the outside. Recollection was five wide at the furlong pole but she really motored home in the final 150 yards and got up to win by a head at 4/1.
Nicaragua, who was four deep, looked to have done enough in the closing stages but was collared and had to settle for second at 11/4. Our Rachael (14/1) was half a length away in third, a head in front of Faseeha
Marie Celeste, the 11/8 favourite from an opening show of 7/4, held every chance when third a furlong and a half out. She weakened on the approach to the final furlong and came in fifth.
Winning handler Ken Condon said: "She was beaten everywhere bar the last stride. It's never a good sign when you are off the bridle that early. She just didn't take to the track and didn't help Shane at any stage but what she does do is stay and she is from staying family.
"She met the rising ground and just got up in the nick of time and I'm delighted with that. She has shown a progressive profile and we will see what the handicapper does. We might try and find a fillies' handicap for her and a mile and a half would be her minimum trip."
The Stewards enquired into possible interference inside the final furlong involving Faseeha, ridden by L.F. Roche, placed fourth, Nicaragua (GB), ridden by C.T. Keane, placed second, Our Rachael, ridden by T.P. Madden, placed third and Recollection, ridden by S. Foley, placed first. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned, in the presence of Niall Madden, trainer, who accompanied Tom Madden in the Stewards room. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the judge's placings and took no action, having deemed any interference to be accidental.
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy