Going Concern (Colin Motherway up) was too strong for Rare Legend and co at Ballinaboola© Photo Healy Racing
With the eventual third, Rare Legend bringing a strong level of form to the table, Matt O'Connor will have felt more than satisfied with his winner, first-timer, Going Concern in division two of the Global Reach Securities Maiden Race for 5-y-o geldings at the Wexford Hunt Point-to-Point Races at Ballinboola, New Ross last Sunday.
O'Connor will also no doubt have been pleased with the round of fast fluent jumping produced by his father John's Going Concern (a half-brother to dual winner Maryannthedancer). Colin Motherway gave the Overbury gelding a lovely ride down the inner near the pace.
Motherway set his mount alight to challenge as several horses held a chance from the third last.
Despite drifting to his right a bit before the last, Going Concern was soon in front and he stayed on well to beat the fellow newcomer, Treacy Hotels Boy (Henry de Bromhead) by three parts of a length. There was a neck back to Rare Legend (second to the exciting Just A Par on his debut) in third.
This was a most popular success as Bannow, County Wexford man Matt O'Connor was getting off the mark in the training ranks.
The racing community won't need any reminding of the fact that O'Connor was left fighting for his life after a fall from Walking Aisy at Thurles in March 2009.
'Strawberry' remarkably got himself back fit enough to return to the saddle and he got back to the number one berth on Kimberlite King at Fairyhouse in February 2010. He reverted to the amateur ranks with success subsequently.
'Shark' Hanlon, trainer of Rare Legend and first race faller, March Seventeenth, got some compensation when Viking Splash showed toughness in abundance to land the Ballywalter Farms Open Lightweight Race to give 'Bon' O'Neill a double (also rode Need To Talk a winner).
Pat Collins and Andrew Latta also got on the scoresheet on the double.
Collins rode Killough Kin a winner in the first for David O'Brien whilst he completed the two-timer later on aboard Pat Crowley's Plettenburg Bay in the Cooney Furlong Perpetual Trophy Winners Of Two.
Andrew Latta, meanwhile, made Rockchasebullett's (lot 79 at Friday's Brightwells Cheltenham Sale) experience count for Donnchadh Doyle in division two of the four-year-old whilst it was a similar story for his father Charlie, on Most Chaste in the Casey Enterprises Maiden Race for 5-y-o & upwards mares confined.
The other winner on the day was Looking For Toby, a surprise victor of the concluding Horse And Hound Inn Ballinaboola Maiden Race for 6-y-o geldings. This son of Rashar, equipped with cheek-pieces and with J J Walsh in the plate, showed a determined attitude for owner/trainer John Hughes, to beat Bob's Bach by two lengths. (EM)
