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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Vintage takes opener in style

Thu 8th May 2014, 17:31

Vintage Nouveau and Pat Smullen Vintage Nouveau and Pat Smullen
© Photo Healy Racing

Vintage Nouveau was easy to back in the opening fillies maiden at Clonmel but got the job done in good style none-the-less.

Pat Smullen bounced out in front on the Moyglare-owned daughter of Montjeu but was joined after a couple of furlongs by Luvly Rita

The Dermot Weld-trained filly went on over a furlong from home and kept on strongly inside the final furlong to score by five lengths. Westpieser came through to take the runner-up spot without ever looking like pegging back the winner.

Vintage Nouveau was reversing placings with the runner-up having finished behind her when fourth on her debut at Dundalk last month.

The winner opened 4/6 on course but was eventually returned an even-money shot.

“She broke well, which is a big advantage around here, and she had the rail, which is a big help as well,” said Smullen.

“It was a good opportunity for her. The ground was very testing but she coped with it well. I'd imagine she'd be looking at handicaps now.”

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)

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.