Bunyola Bay scoops Gowran Classic for Hannon and Levey Richard Hannon's Bunyola Bay, the sole British raider in the field, was rewarded for his trip across the Irish Sea when he scooped the first prize of over €100,000 in the valuable Irish Stallion Farms EBF Gowran Classic (Smullen Series). Sean Levey was eager to race him from the front and pushed him along to lead before the field had seen out a furlong in this extended nine-furlong race. He dictated his own fractions thereafter and the pair travelled best two furlongs down. Levey pushed him on racing to the final furlong and the 11/2 chance began to crank up the pressure on the pursuing Mo Mhuirin. The leader was powerful in the closing stages as he kept up the gallop to put three and a quarter lengths on 20/1 Mo Mhuirin. Cherry Hill Girl (14/1) was another three lengths away in third. Andy Slattery saddled the placed horses as they both picked up healthy pots. Levey said: “It was impressive and he had to be today. “He’s relatively inexperienced and it was his first time going around a bend. “We’ve always liked him. To be honest, looking at what the handicapper was possibly going to give him, he would have had to find a lot here today, but he’s unexposed. “I thought looking at him in the ring he stood out quite a lot, so potentially a nice horse has won a very nice race on a track that seems to have suited him very well.” When asked if he could be a stakes horses he added:- “You’d like to think so. “Obviously, you’d like to dissect the race and see what he’s beat on the day. I know a lot of horses actually had true marks in that, but you just want to see if he’s actually up to that. “At the moment you’d upgrade him for how well he handled the track. The way we rode him today is the way we normally ride him and it just seemed to suit an awful lot for the track today. “We’ll let some water go under the bridge and see how he comes out of it. He’s definitely a nice horse, how nice we don’t know.” The Raceday Stewards enquired into an incident one and half furlongs from the finish involving Cherry Hill Girl, ridden by G.M. Ryan, and Mo Mhuirin, ridden by A.J. Slattery where it appeared Cherry Hill Girl had to check. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. G M Ryan stated that he hadn't committed to any gap as he was waiting for an opening at which point he saw Mhuirin moving out to the left so he took a precautionary. check A J Slattery stated that the he was edging out for a run and felt he was fully clear of Cherry Hill Girl. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that A J Slattery was in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly and having considered his record in this regard (second offence) the Raceday Stewards suspended him for four days. Additional reporting by Gary Carson
