Abushamah (noseband) crosses the line in front of Helen's Armada© Photo Healy Racing
The recently gelded Abushamah provided Chris Hayes with his second winner of the Listowel Festival as he took the Exchange Inn & Kevin Brodericks Bar 3yo Handicap.
The Kevin Prendergast trained son of Nayef won his maiden on his sixth start at Roscommon in June and then finished a close-up fourth in the Ulster Derby on his next start.
He disappointingly finished last of five at Killarney on his last outing and he was since gelded.
Sent off an 8/1 chance this afternoon he led and disputed before improving into an outright lead with three furlongs to race.
He was ridden clear from the two furlong pole and while his advantage was reduced inside the final furlong he still had half a length to spare at the line. Helen's Armada was the one who was chasing him down as she came from well off the pace to finish second under Shane Foley for Pat Shanahan at 10/1. Danish Duke (14/1) completed the placings a further length and three parts back in third under Wayne Lordan for David Wachman while the 9/4 favourite Kodiac’s Back could only manage fourth, a further half a length back under Colm O’Donoghue for David Marnane.
Chris Hayes said afterwards: "Gelding him has helped him. He boiled over and sweated up in Killarney and he has been much calmer since he has been gelded.
"I can put that win down to the boss today as he told me to jump and go. Provided he is not crippled there could be another handicap in him."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
