Queen Of Alba approaches the line in Sligo© Photo Healy Racing
There was a shock in the Kilcawley Construction Sligo Race as long odds-on favourite Truthwillsetufree laboured in her pursuit of Queen Of Alba and was beaten into second.
Queen Of Alba (6/1) went past front-running Smoker with two furlongs to go. Pat Smullen was already at work on board Truthwillsetufree as he tried to coax her into going after the leader.
Truthwillsetufree moved into second in the home straight but there was no more headway forthcoming and she lost by a length and a half at odds of 8/13.
This was jockey Ronan Whelan’s first winner since riding out his claim and he said: “I’m in with the big boys now and up against the likes of Pat Smullen, Declan McDonogh and Kevin Manning. It’s going to be tough, but getting a winner like that helps.”
Trainer Thomas Cleary added: “She’s been knocking on the door and going up a few pounds for being placed, but that win will help her for breeding.”
When asked about Whelan being a good substitute for his jockey son Rory (who was on unplaced Ansgar in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot today), Cleary replied: “I’m going to adopt him!”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
