Trainer John Oxx was on hand at Sligo this evening to witness his Cape Of Good defeat stablemate Sceal Nua for an Oxx 1-2 in the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap. Cape Of Good Grace under Niall McCullagh, moved to the front before the straight before staying on strongly for a length and a quarter success.

Afterwards Oxx said “I don’t know when I was here last – the manager (Brian Kennedy) tells me it was the early 1980s!”

He added “both Cape Of Good Grace and Sceal Nua are two nice fillies and had their chance today - I thought the ground might not be soft enough for the winner though. Her dam and grand-dam were a sprinter and she’s by cape cross so I can’t believe she stays so well. She’ll go for something similar or maybe step up a grade next.”

Jockey Leigh Roche subsequently received a two day suspension for careless riding on third placed Asiya The Stewards enquired into an incident turning into the straight when Asiya caused Gypsie Queen to check and found Leigh guilty of carless riding.

Thomas Weekes