Michael's Well strikes for Hartys in Navan opener Eddie and Patrick Harty continued their fine end to the Flat season when sending out the once-raced Michael's Well to win the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden at Navan. Runner-up on his debut at Naas recently, the John Linehan owned gelding was sent off 11/4 to go one place better under Chris Hayes. Prominent throughout, the son of Havana Grey was pushed along to take closer order in fourth over two-furlongs out. Coming through to challenge at the furlong pole, Michael's Well headed Baiana 150 yards out, staying on well to win by half-a-length. Eddie Harty said: "Greenness probably cost him first-time out - he kind of went to the front with 100 (yards) to go, like he would win, and the horse with experience had the rail. He was only beaten three-parts of a length and he has built on that run now. "It was a decent enough race (today) and he gave weight to everything, so that is another good sign. He's a nice horse. "He wants good ground, but like time is running out. We thought the chances were that he would win, so I was prepared to try him on soft ground because there was some purchase in it. If it is heavy, and it gets loose, sometimes they can be all at sea. I was afraid that would be the case (scratched from Curragh yesterday on heavy ground). "I would have preferred to have gone to the Curragh because we were at level weights. It didn't work out and there was no point in being stupid about it. "He'll get a bit further than that, get seven (furlongs) anyway. It was promising." Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
