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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Spirituoso off the mark on turf in style

Sat 3rd Sep 2022, 16:34

Trainer Lee SmythTrainer Lee Smyth
© Photo Healy Racing

Spirituoso recorded her first victory on turf when running out a comprehensive winner of the first division of the apprentice handicap at Navan.

Jack Kearney held his mount up in the early stages of the ten furlong contest before driving her to the front a furlong-and-a-half from home.

The 9/1 shot soon settled matters and Kearney just had to keep her up to her work in the closing stages to record a five-length win over Kartayaz

Spirituoso was recording her third career win, with her previous successes coming on all-weather surfaces at Dundalk and Kempton.

“I think Jack was riding his finish to the furlong pole there. He did stand up and I hope the handicapper understands that he's young and inexperienced and didn't know what he was doing!” said Smyth.

“She won very well in fairness, she's simple and straight-forward and had been very good since changing hands for the new owner.

“She needs a bit of pace up front and the last day at Dundalk she got no pace and it just didn't work out for her. I thought she'd win the last day but she's made up for it today.

“Jack is riding a bit of work for me lately. He's got three rides for me today and it's great that he's got a win.

“The owner David Adams is a great supporter of the yard and it's great for him to get another winner.

“She'll go back to Dundalk for the winter and then we'll move her on. She's doing nothing wrong at the minute and hopefully there are some more wins in her.”

1st
9/1
Tote €10.00 €1.90
2nd
5L
12/1
€3.50
3rd
shd
5/1
€2.50
4th
1.75L
17/2
bf
3.5L
10/3Fav
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.