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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Okita a class act in Dundalk opener

Fri 10th Feb 2023, 16:22

Okita Soushi and Mikey SheehyOkita Soushi and Mikey Sheehy
© Photo Healy Racing

Okita Soushi quickened away in fine style to land the odds in the opening two-mile conditions race at Dundalk this afternoon.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained son of Galileo went to post an 8/11 shot and tracked front-runner Jerandme throughout the race.

Mikey Sheehy asked his mount to tackle the leader passing the two pole and he ran around slightly when taking a narrow lead a furlong-and-a-half out.

Sheehy straightened his mount up inside the final furlong and he pulled nicely clear to record a four-length win over Firstman who stayed on for the runner-up spot.

The winner was taking a drop in class on his return to action having been well held in the Irish Cesarewitch and Ebor on his previous two outings.

Assistant trainer Brendan Powell said: "The idea was to get a run into him, he's in at Saudi in a few weeks' time. He hasn't been accepted yet, but after this there is a possibility that he could go there.

"It was just nice to go and get his head in front again. He had a few races last year where he was a little bit unlucky.

"He had to win it on ratings today and it was nice for him to go and do it. He got a lovely lead into it and Mikey took it up a fair way out, but he didn't want it to turn into a real sprint.

"Mikey said when he got to the front he was only doing enough. We used to hold him up a lot before - he used to be a bit keen, but he relaxes beautifully now.

"He has galloped to the line and he has had a nice blow there."

(Quotes by Michael Graham)

1st
8/11Fav
Tote €1.80 €1.10
2nd
4L
2/1
€1.10
3rd
0.75L
9/2
4th
7.5L
66/1
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.