Manny Owens approaches the line in Dundalk© Photo Healy Racing
Manny Owens the 3/1 favourite for the opening mile maiden in Dundalk, kept on well under Sean Corby to take the spoils by a length and three parts.
His four outings prior to this assignment saw him finish third twice and runner-up twice so he wasn’t winning out of turn.
He was second at the halfway stage before challenging with a quarter of a mile to race. He was ridden to lead at the furlong pole and stuck to his task to beat Great Dancer (9/2) who did his best work in the final 100 yards. It was the same distance back to Moving On Up in third at 8/1.
Trainer Cormac Farrell said: “He has improved all season. Although he handles that surface he really wants it soft. We couldn’t see him beaten the last day, but he got a bit lonely in front.
“That’s him finished for the season now. He could step up next year. He’ll get further than that. It wouldn’t surprise me if he made his way to the good handicaps. We’ll start him off in handicaps. We have the blinkers on him to teach him.
“I have five or six in training, including a couple of National Hunt horses and I’m based in Naas.”
