Layfayette and Oisin Orr winning the Plusvital Devoy Stakes© Photo Healy Racing
Noel Meade endured the highs and lows of life and racing in the space of just a few minutes as Layfayette took the Plusvital Devoy Stakes at Naas.
The low came in the parade ring before the 1m2f Listed race when the Castletown trainer received a nasty kick from Pita Pinta but the pain was certainly eased soon afterwards as the Patricia Hunt-owned gelding came home in front.
The field was reduced to seven runners after both Jason The Militant and Barrington Court were taken out due to the drying ground (officially good to yielding) and the winner needed to be rousted along early on by Oisin Orr.
However, he warmed to his task and challenged on the outer in the straight getting the better of the front-running Licence by half-a-length. Bear Story finished a further three and a quarter lengths back in third.
Meade answered questions on his own well-being first saying, “It’s sore but I’m alright. I was very lucky because I was kicked on the softest soft (backside) and missed the bone. It just shows you what can happen.
“We’re delighted to win. We had the choice of the Lincoln but I felt that there could be something in it that was a Stakes horse and it could be difficult off 102 to win it.
“He’s been working the house down at home. He’s moving great this year so we’ll progress on in Stakes races and see how we get on. He races lazily as you saw there.
“Oisin is going to ride a good few for me this year when Colin is not available.
“He can go a mile and a half. He’s won two Listed races now so we’ll try and get a Group 3.”
