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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Sea The Lion wins a driving finish

Sat 19th Jul 2014, 19:41

Mick Halford and Shane FoleyMick Halford and Shane Foley
© Photo Healy Racing

Annus Mirabilis looked to be on his way to lining the punters pockets who backed him from 7/4 to 5/4 in the closing maiden at the Curragh, but she tied up in the last furlong and finished out of the places.

He drifted left under pressure inside the furlong pole of this mile and a quarter race, and the petrol gauge dipped into the red as Sea The Lion (2/1) and Shane Foley stayed on well to get up on the line and deprive No Wunder by a head.

The runner-up, who was an 8/1 chance, also stayed on nicely but the big eyecatcher was Awesome Star on debut for John Oxx who found top gear in the last two furlongs. He was beaten a head and a neck into third at 11/2.

“He’s still very babyish. He has learned plenty and he travelled better today. He’s still green off the bridle and he’s a horse that will improve with racing. He has a great temperament and he looked like he will get further,” handler Mick Halford said.

“It’s nice to get a winner for John (Connaughton) who bred him and who has been very patient.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
2/1
Tote €3.30 €1.30
2nd
hd
8/1
€1.40
3rd
nk
11/2
€1.60
4th
1L
5/4Fav
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.