Areana readily lands gamble on stable debut The well punted Areana, who was backed from 33/1 overnight into 11/2, landed the Hartes Group Apprentice Handicap under Jessica Gorman for trainer partnership of Eddie and Patrick Harty. After an absence of 260 days and the application of first-time blinkers, this six-year-old mare was sharp out of the gates and made all. Setting what looked like a decent gallop the daughter of Pride of Dubai got loose on the front and always had at least five lengths to spare over her nearest pursuer. Owned by Eamonn Crawford, this mare kept on strongly up the hill in the closing stages to win by five lengths with Great mover managing to keep on for second at 22/1. Eddie Harty said, “We don’t have her that long but she’s always been a good moving filly, and I said to Jess ‘try and get her to break well and keep her moving’. “She was doing nice fractions all the way and I thought it was a very good ride for a 7lb claimer. “I’d say that’s the lower end of her stamina and we won’t run her over any shorter. “We’ll see what’s coming up and she could go back over hurdles, but that ground suits her.”
