Jazz Girl and Connor King (nearside) got back up to beat Shalaman at Killarney© Photo Healy Racing
After getting dumped off Wordsaplenty (withdrawn) before the previous race, Connor King continued an eventful day by landing the featured J & B O'Sullivan Builders Kingdom Gold Cup Handicap at Killarney on Jazz Girl (double figures this morning into 9/2).
Critics of Leigh Roche's riding of Shalaman (including yesterday) would probably do well to watch a re-run of this contest as the Tuam native had his mount out in plenty of time to go and win his race on this occasion.
However, after gaining a narrow lead from the furlong pole, he was headed in the closing stages by Jazz Girl (came again having made the running) by a head. In fairness others will argue that Shalaman was merely coming up short on the back of a busy schedule lately.
In any case Jazz Girl has been a tremendous servant to trainer Andy Oliver and her owner Garrett Freyne, gaining career win number seven in this valuable event.
King (17 on the 19th of August) explained: "She's very tough and with every belt I gave her she really picked up. She's just real tough and honest.
"I have another 19 winners to get before my claim is down to 3Ibs.
"I went back to school today but they didn't mind that I had to miss half of a double Irish class. I left school at 3.15." (TW & EM)
