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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Heffernan has Crawley smiling after hatching a plan

Wed 29th Jun 2022, 19:12

Karlsberg, black cap, heads for homeKarlsberg, black cap, heads for home
© Photo Healy Racing

Karlsberg doubled her victory total in the fillies' and mares' handicap in Tipperary.

The four-year-old filly chased Lady Arwen into the straight and got to grips with her at the furlong pole.

Seamie Heffernan got into the drive position in the closing stages as she looked vulnerable to a closer, however, she had enough in the tank to win by half a length at 9/1. Mean Fomhair finished well in second at 12/1 and was three parts of a length in front of a keeping-on Independent Expert (6/1). Petticoat Rule (10/1) rounded out the places in this 16-runner handicap.

Trainer Shane Crawley said: "We were scratching our heads after her last few runs so when I took the saddle off Seamie, after weighing him out, he said he had a game plan and I had a smile on my face as he filled me with confidence.

"He wanted to buck her out smart, make the running and see what happens, and you've seen what happened. Seamie deserves a pat on the back.

"She is a big filly who she really lets herself down on that ground and handles it better than others. I don't think she'd like the track at Galway and she wants good galloping tracks."

The Stewards requested a report from Shane Crawley, trainer as to the apparent improvement in form of Karlsberg, placed first, as compared with its recent run at Listowel on June the 4th, where she finished tenth of twelve finishers this day. Shane Crawley, trainer, stated that todays soft ground conditions helped bring about todays improvement in form. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the content of the report.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes

1st
9/1
Tote €10.60 €3.40
2nd
0.5L
12/1
€3.60
3rd
0.75L
6/1
€2.40
4th
1L
10/1
€2.90
bf
nose
5/1Fav
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.