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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Majestic Maid a first Galway Festival winner for Kennedy

Sat 3rd Aug 2019, 18:34

Majestic Maid in front where it countsMajestic Maid in front where it counts
© Photo Healy Racing

Majestic Maid served up a 20/1 surprise in the concluding mares' bumper at Galway.

Michael O'Sullivan 's mount looked to have plenty on her plate as Dime A Dozen kicked away from her before the home bend.

Majestic Maid was far from cooked, however, as she came with her challenge between Dime A Dozen and the favourite Skyace over a furlong out.

She was ridden by O'Sullivan and took a narrow lead from Dime A Dozen with 150 yards to travel.

Skyace (6/4f) came under pressure in third and couldn't find the answers as Majestic Maid ground it out by a length and a quarter from Dime A Dozen (8/1).

Michael O'Sullivan said: "It was great. She's a real gutsy mare now, she's one to look forward to the future.

"She did it well. She just took a right hold early and she took me to the front but when she got to the front she dropped and I was able to get a good breather into her coming down the hill and then she toughed it out coming up the hill.

"It's my third winner for Mikey (Kennedy) now, so he is really supporting me and I'm very grateful for it.

"I had a great year last year (point-to-pointing) and I was champion novice. I'm in college at the minute so I think I will stay amateur until I finish that. I'll reassess the situation then."

Michael Kennedy added: "She had a good run in Limerick and we thought she'd win but it was a blessing in disguise she didn't win.

"We'll probably give her a break now as she has been on the go a long time. She has a bright future, she is handy enough but is good and strong and very tough.

"Her owner Conor Murphy is a great supporter of mine and I'm delighted for him. He owned her dam as well and has a good few homebreds at home.

"I have 10 horses to run for the summer and have 20 for the winter. This is my first Galway winner."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes

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.