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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Harbour Gem sparkles on better ground

Fri 10th May 2024, 20:05

Harbour Gem (yellow and red) Harbour Gem (yellow and red)
© Photo Healy Racing

Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes struck in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 3yo Spring Series Median Auction Fillies Maiden with 7/2 chance Harbour Gem

Disappointing when favourite at Leopardstown last month but placed on all three previous outings, the daughter of Zoffany was stepping up to ten furlongs for the first time. Patiently ridden, she improved to challenge in the straight and gained a narrow advantage over Declaree inside the final furlong to score by a neck.

Hayes said of the David Granville-owned winner: "I was of the opinion she wanted good ground and her form suggested she handled heavy. We ran her in Naas and she got through heavy ground quite well but maybe that race took more out of her than we thought.

"We agreed we'd come here for the nicer ground, a nice track and to ride her cold. She did what we thought she'd do, hopefully that'll do her confidence the world of good and she will step up."

"She is at the right side of the handicapper and if she can do what her sibling (Listed winner Harbour Wind) did, that would be great."

Quotes from Thomas Weekes

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.