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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Sonnyboyliston caps big day for Murtagh

Fri 18th Jun 2021, 18:17

Sonnyboyliston and Shane Kelly beat SunchartSonnyboyliston and Shane Kelly beat Sunchart
© Photo Healy Racing

Sonnyboyliston capped a terrific day for trainer Johnny Murtagh when claiming the Listed Martin Molony Stakes at Limerick this evening.

Murtagh had landed his first winner as a trainer at Royal Ascot with Create Belief earlier in the day and Sonnyboyliston went to post a strongly supported 6/5 shot.

Shane Kelly tracked the leaders on the Power gelding before asking him to take closer order turning for home.

The chestnut tackled Sunchart over a furlong out and got on top in the closing stages to record a length-and-a-half success.

Sonnyboyliston had been a fine third in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes behind Japan at Chester last month.

"I've had a few thirds but that's my first black-type winner and it is a big day for the yard,” said Kelly.

“All the horses ran well in Ascot so I was coming here really confident because he had been working with those horses.

"He is a nice horse, had a very good run in Chester and I think he can step up again.

"I'm with Johnny three and a half years and I'm getting plenty of chances so I'm delighted to repay him."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)

1st
6/5Fav
Tote €2.00 €1.10
2nd
1.5L
7/2
€1.50
3rd
0.5L
50/1
€11.90
4th
0.5L
10/1
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.