Yellow and blue silks Fran Berry comes with a winning run on Texas Rock© Photo Healy Racing
Fran Berry was back on home soil to land the Listed Waterford Testimonial Stakes at Navan aboard the Joe Keeling-owned and Michael Grassick-trained Texas Rock (16/1).
In this sprint not much more than a length and half split the first six home but Texas Rock did just enough to touch off favourite Son Of Rest by a neck.
Four of Texas Rock's previous five wins had come over seven furlongs, including in the Listed Owenstown Stud Stakes at Naas in May. He's also triumphed at a mile in handicap company.
Grassick said afterwards: "I was going to run him in the Concorde last weekend but the ground was so bad I'd only tear the heart out of him. We said we'd take a chance at six (furlongs) and Joe (Keeling, owner) was quite keen to give it a go.
"I thought he might get a bit outpaced but he was always comfortable and he was so genuine. The finish is testing here and we felt that would play into his hands.
"He will probably go for the Knockaire Stakes at Leopardstown over seven furlongs and that will be him for the year. I have eight in training at the moment and this fella has been a great flagbearer for the yard over the last few years. I bought his brother the other day from Germany."
The Stewards interviewed K.K. Hennessy, rider of Maarek (GB), concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race.
Evidence was heard from the rider concerned.
Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that K.K. Hennessy was in breach of R10(3)(f) by using his whip with excessive frequency and therefore cautioned him having taken his good previous record into consideration.
(AM & EM)
