Progressive Sarahmae takes sprint handicap at 14/1 Sarahmae recorded her third win this season when the 14/1 outsider upset the odds in the Neville Homes Handicap at the Curragh. The €35,000 five-furlong event was reduced to just seven runners in the absence of Erosandpsyche, Gazelle D’or and Bold Optimist and the remaining septet raced up the centre of the track. Sarahmae, racing from 4lb out of the handicap proper, made headway to challenge over a furlong out and kept on well inside the final 100 yards under Keithen Kennedy to score by a length and a quarter. Keke, the well-backed 7/4 favourite, got going late to snatch the runner-up spot, with Kendall Roy a neck further back in third. Winning trainer Denis Hogan said, “We were nearly not running her on the ground (officially good, good to firm in places) because she is better with cut. “We declared and the race fell apart, and it was more enticing to run all the time. We told Keithen to look after her and to be fair he didn’t have to worry too much. “She’s a massive improver. We were probably running her over the wrong trip, and we dropped back. “She’s a proper sprinter to look at now. She’s after developing physically and she might be one for some nice sprints at the backend of the season. “The Joe McGrath could be an option, and we’d love to get her some black type as well.”
