Kodiac Prince and Rory Cleary© Photo Healy Racing
Kodiac Prince (11/1) took the Vincent Casey Life & Pensions Handicap to complete a quick double for Rory Cleary.
This year’s Irish 2,000 Guineas-winning jockey challenged widest of all up the straight on his mount and the 4-year-old, in first-time headgear, raced clear in the final furlong to defeat Swiss Army Officer by two and a quarter lengths.
Successful on Faithful Prince in the previous contest, it was an 89/1 brace for the popular lightweight and a second win for his mount who made the breakthrough at Gowran Park last term.
Winning trainer Tom Cleary said: "He was badly hampered in Listowel the last day and he probably wants the ground that bit softer, which we had today.
"I was delighted when I saw puddles of water coming down and we stepped him up to the mile with cheek-pieces on so it all helped.
"There are one or two options coming up soon and if we have soft ground, we'll run. He didn't have many runs this year as he had a small injury and I didn't rush him back.
"He is a good type of horse and it paid off that we had patience. The owners, (ex-trainer) Matty and Helena O'Toole, from Galway, have great patience and left it to myself."
Quotes from Thomas Weekes
