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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

St Faz wins nightcap for O'Grady & Foley

Fri 28th Jul 2023, 21:35

St Faz (right) pips Evening's EmpireSt Faz (right) pips Evening's Empire
© Photo Healy Racing

Placed in a couple of maidens in the spring, St Faz (17/2) put a disappointing handicap debut at Fairyhouse behind him when landing the Proparamedics Handicap under Shane Foley.

Trained by Edward O'Grady for Aidan Ryan, the gelded son of the Kitten's Joy stallion Taareef was fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time.

He was patiently ridden before making steady headway down the outer in the straight. After joining issue with Evening's Empire a furlong out, he stayed on well to just shade the verdict by a short head from that rival with Notturno another half a length back in third.

Foley said: "He's a horse that probably wants to go that trip, but he is a little bit hard on himself. He was a bit keen beforehand.

"I was further back than ideal, but I wanted to get him to relax. He did that and he ground it out well.

"He would go on softer ground as well and it was a nice fighting performance."

Quotes from Michael Graham

1st
17/2
Tote €9.80 €2.80
2nd
shd
12/1
€3.70
3rd
0.5L
7/2
€1.70
4th
1L
11/1
bf
5L
3/1Fav
About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.