ARABESKA and Nathan Crosse (near) win from MARY SALOME (grey) and SHATARAAT. © Photo Healy Racing
Arabeska (4s into 3/1 fav on course) showed her liking for seven furlongs at Gowran Park when winning the Book Direct On SpringhillCourt.com Handicap for Willie McCreery and Nathan Crosse (18th winner of the season).
Having won a maiden on her previous visit to the Co.Kilkenny track in May, the daughter of Bated Breath tracked the leaders in the early stages and, despite racing a bit keenly, she found plenty in the final quarter-mile to wear down Mary Salome (12/1) and the well-backed front-runner Shatharaat (8s into 9/2 on course).
Half a length and a neck were the winning distances, with the first three nicely clear of the rest.
Successful trainer Willie McCreery said: “The plan was to jump and lead but she missed the kick.
“She's a grand filly. For some reason she doesn't run as well on straight tracks but then she did run a cracker down in Cork when John Oxx's horse beat us.
“He didn't move us in the handicap for that but then put us up 8lb for winning here.
“She liked that ground and she stayed well. I'd love to stick a bit of black-type on her by the end of the year. She's after winning two races now and she's really for the breeding end now.
“It gives us more of an option that she did that on that ground. I thought she battled well to do it when she got out.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
