Egyptian Warrior (nearest) gets up close home to deny Long Journey Home© Photo Healy Racing
Joseph O’Brien completed a treble at Dundalk as he got Egyptian Warrior up close home to win the Dual Racing Sunday 17th August At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.
Trained by his father Aidan (completing a quick double) the five-year-old son of Galileo competed in bumpers for the majority of last year, but failed to score in five attempts.
He switched to flat rules in September, and scored on his second start at Listowel, before disappointing on his last outing at the Curragh.
Having his first start on the all-weather this evening, he was sent off a 7/1 chance, after drifting from his morning price of 9/2.
Settled in mid-division the Annemarie O’Brien owned gelding travelled well into the straight, and he was right on the heels of the leaders.
He was niggled along two furlongs out, before O’Brien had to get serious on him with over a furlong left to race.
He then gradually reeled in Long Journey Home getting up near the line to score by half a length.
The aforementioned Long Journey Home (14/1) ran a nice race back in second under Wayne Lordan for Daniel O’Sullivan, while Zeftan who was backed from 8/1 to 9/2 on-course, was a further two and a quarter lengths back in third under Michael Hussey for Peter McCreery. Catchy Lass was sent off the well-backed 6/4 favourite (7/2 last night and from 13/8 on-course), for Anthony Mulholland and Conor King, but she could only manage a disappointing fourth.
Joseph O’Brien said afterwards: “He is a lovely big horse, but he has been a bit disappointing in a couple of bumpers.
"We put the blinkers on him but he probably doesn’t need them anymore as he knuckled down well. I think he will make a decent hurdler on decent ground."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
