18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Country collects with fine front-running performance

Wed 1st Sep 2021, 14:24

Mother Country holds off Yermanthere Mother Country holds off Yermanthere
© Photo Healy Racing

The Willie McCreery-trained Mother Country stuck her head out in the closing stages to make all in the three-year-old handicap at Gowran Park.

Billy Lee soon bagged the lead on the Godolphin filly in the seven-furlong contest and she kicked a couple of lengths clear passing the two pole.

The well backed 11/4 favourite Yermanthere (12/1 in morning) finished off well to throw down a strong challenge inside the final furlong but couldn't find a way past Mother Country, who recorded a half length win.

The 6/1 winner had won her maiden at Naas in June but made little impression on her handicap debut at Galway last time when Lee had reported that she 'got no run'.

McCreery said:- “She won in Naas and then got no run really in Galway. It’s nice to get back into another three-year-old only handicap and she did it well from the front.

“She was nice and positive and will get a stiff seven or a mile.

“We’ll try and get some black type with her now.

“Billy thought she was idling in front and would love to get a lead with her again. She jumped so smartly that he wasn’t going to take her back and everything worked out.”

Luke McAteer, on the runner-up Yermanthere, carried 2lb overweight in the race.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.