Late owner Gough remembered after Dundalk's claimer Benavente (10/1) was a poignant winner of Dundalk’s opening Group Deals Available Apprentice Optional Claiming Race today, scoring for owner James McAuley whose colourful uncle and big racing influence James Gough passed away on March 15. Owner McAuley and his trainer Denis Hogan were represented by three of the seven runners and with apprentice jockey Julian Pietropaolo holding up Benavente, the eight-year-old gelding led a furlong out and scored by 3.25 lengths from Thaloria. McAuley’s other runners Dontspoilasale and The Liffey (10/11f) finished in fourth and fifth places respectively. Recalling Gough, a former Horse Racing Ireland board member and prominent owner, McAuley said "racing was never about money for him, it was just about leading in his winners. He won't have any complaints himself although he ruffled a few feathers in racing, which kept him active and young!” Regarding Benavente, McAuley added “he wants every yard of that distance but anything that is fit to run in claimers, we run. Sometimes it looks mad and if I had brought The Liffey alone, I'd be going home scratching my head. “We throw a few darts and it never mattered which one of them won, and Jim was the same. We try and support these claimers and there would have only been five or six runners if we didn't run today.” "I'm not sure how good Benavente is on turf, we haven’t had him long enough for turf racing yet so I'll give him one or two runs and if it doesn't work out, we will bring him back home for the summer. He has been brilliant for us and Julian is a very good rider who has his head screwed on.” There were no claims made following the running of the race. Quotes from Michael Graham
