Sho Girl ploughs through the mud in Listowel© Photo Healy Racing
Sho Girl may have been 25/1, but she relished the heavy ground in Co Kerry with a decisive three and three quarter length victory in the Friends Of Tony Wright Memorial Handicap over a mile and six.
The winning move came with half a mile to go as she tackled Caim Hill and moved into the lead in her own right at the three furlong pole. She kept up her gallop to win comfortably.
Handler Patrick Prendergast said: “I’m very very pleased with her as she lost her way a bit. She won an ordinary maiden on dirty ground at Roscommon, but I think yielding is even too quick for her. She wants it up to her garters.
“I took a chance with the mile and six. I wasn’t sure she would get the trip, but Declan was and he gave her a very confident ride.
“She’s entered at Tipperary over a mile and a half, but will only run if it rains and it would have to be heavy.” Victory Song the 3/1 favourite for Aidan and Joseph O’Brien, was scrubbed along in mid division to get involved with three furlongs to go. When she could make no further headway, she was eased down to finish last of the 11 runners.
Caim Hill took second-placed money at 16/1, a length in front of 7/2 shot Clara Bel La
Successful jockey Declan McDonogh explained: “Groundwise we were very confident. She showed she’s a real mud lover and galloped them into the ground.
It was a lucrative half hour for the owners Ballylinch Stud who also had joy in the previous race with Fulminata
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
