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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Ambassadorial in charge on polytrack

Fri 7th Oct 2016, 19:31

Ambassadorial quickens away in DundalkAmbassadorial quickens away in Dundalk
© Photo Healy Racing

Ambassadorial made it two from two at Dundalk when impressively stepping in class in the seven furlong Listed race for juveniles.

Michael Halford 's Godolphin colt took a course and distance maiden by two and a half lengths in early September.

Money came for him tonight as he shortened from 11/2 to 4/1 on the off.

Shane Foley settled him in sixth of the nine runners as Oh Grace set the pace from Leo Minor

Ambassadorial was asked to close in the final quarter of a mile and he readily came through with his challenge a furlong down.

He soon swept to the front to comfortably score by a length and a half. William Haggas' raider, the 2/1 favourite Executive Force came in second after disputing the lead a furlong out.

Leo Minor (7/2) was a further three lengths adrift in third.

Michael Halford said: "He's a smart colt and did it well. He travels and quickens, and went to the line strong. I think he'll keep improving.

"He'd not done much and surprised us first time out, and he's not been away since. That was a big step up from his maiden.

"That will probably be it for this year but we will have a chat with the team and see what they think."

Shane Foley added: "He was very impressive up here the first day in a maiden and it's hard to know what he beat that day but he was very visually impressive.

"It was impressive again tonight, there was plenty of strength in depth there today and he has done it well. He travelled around good and when he gets to the front he thinks he has enough done.

"We knew he had improved a lot from his first run and I think there's plenty more to come from him. He worked well the other morning. He seems to find everything so easy. He's really one to look forward to for next year. He's laid-back, he has everything."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.