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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Rayna another for Oxx at Tramore

Sat 31st May 2014, 15:01

Rayna holds off Lady CliticoRayna holds off Lady Clitico
© Photo Healy Racing

Rayna held on at the line to open her account in the fillies maiden at Tramore, maintaining the impressive strike rate of trainer John Oxx at the course.

Sixteen Again made the running in the mile-and-a-half contest but gave way two furlongs from home to the Aga Khan-owned daughter of Selkirk.

Declan McDonogh gave the winner a powerful drive as she held on to repel the strong challenge of Lady Clitico inside the final furlong, by a neck.

The 3/1 winner had been placed on both her previous outings when third at Dundalk and Gowran Park earlier in the month.

Oxx now has a 50 per cent strike rate at the course, since the year 2000, with 21 winners from 42 runners.

"I suppose she had the form in the book to win a race of that type,” said Oxx's assistant 'Slim' O'Neill.

“She'll get two miles and the firmer the better for her. If she gets a proper enough mark she should be able to win a little handicap somewhere.  She is honest and tries."

McDonogh added:- "The track is riding brilliant. She acted very well on it and was very good on the bends.

"Charlie's horse came at me late. I didn't think that she would get home so I went early to try and get her at it."

Golden Sky was sent off the well backed 5/2 favourite (from 5/1) but trailed in last of the nine runners.

(Additional reporting by Donal Murphy)

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.