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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Oasis defies top-weight in Birdcatcher

Sun 20th Oct 2013, 15:03

Hidden Oasis, near side, delivers his challenge at NaasHidden Oasis, near side, delivers his challenge at Naas
© Photo Healy Racing

The David Wachman-trained Hidden Oasis prevailed in a thrilling finish to the Birdcatcher Nursery at Naas this afternoon.

The €40,000 contest was run over seven furlongs for the first time as the sprint track is currently undergoing work.

Fran Berry held 15/8 favourite Hidden Oasis up in rear in the early stages before delivering his challenge on the outer with two furlongs to run.

The JP McManus-owned gelding got to the front just inside the final furlong and galloped on resolutely to get home by half a length under top-weight. Focussed just edged the second from Craftsman by a head.

“That was a nice and Fran gave him a good ride,” said Wachman.

“He handles the easy ground well. He's pretty competitive on fast ground but seems to handle that better than most.

“He probably run in stakes races next season.”

The winner had landed a maiden at the Galway festival before just giving way in the closing stages on his handicap debut at Listowel.

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.