'He pulled away like a good horse today' - Hassett moves ahead in Apprentice Jockeys title Wayne Hassett went ahead in the Apprentice Jockeys’ Championship today, as the 3lb claimer landed the Curragh’s 1xbet.ie Safer Gambling Handicap on his uncle trainer Martin Hassett’s Dmaniac (7/2f). Hassett, who finished joint-second behind winner James Ryan in last year’s title, today steered Dmaniac to a 2.75 lengths win over Mercurial, to notch his 24th success this term. The success puts Hassett one ahead of Robert Whearty (23 wins) and further ahead of Jack Cleary (22) and Wesley Joyce (21). Trainer Hassett reported “the most important thing today was that Wayne got a winner to get him back in front. We’re throwing everything at it and we were unlucky yesterday in Gowran in the maiden, just beaten a head (with Rocket Robyn). We’re going to Navan tomorrow with Bynx and Secret Magician has a chance later on.” Regarding Dmaniac he added “it was all about the ground. We had a couple of frustrating runs as we were coming and the ground was called ‘yielding’ and we were taking a chance but the ground wasn’t yielding. “In fairness the handicapper has dropped him. He’s been second in two good maidens here on soft ground and was entitled to do that on those runs. I couldn’t see him being beaten today on that ground. If he could get it even softer the next day it would be better, he wants it virtually bottomless. “He pulled away like a good horse today and we’ll come back here on November 2nd for something.” Quotes from Gary Carson
