Silk Braid wins on debut to extend Whearty's advantage Robert Whearty extended his lead in the apprentices championship to three, when riding the Ger Lyons trained Silk Braid to win the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden (Median Auction Race) at the Curragh. Sent off 7/1, the debutant raced keenly in mid division in the early stages of the race. Travelling strongly to head Port Arthur over two furlongs out, the daughter of Invincible Army soon went clear. Odds-on favourite Starred stayed on in the closing stages to take second but Silk Braid had two-and-a-half-lengths in hand at the line. Shane Lyons said: “She was impressive, she showed that at home. “We’re delighted for Jerome and Lisa (Hulin) that bred her and they also manage the Sheikh’s horses as well up in Grangecon. “It’s also brilliant for Robert, to get him a vital winner for the championship. He comes in and rides out for us twice a week, he’s a good member of the team so it’s great to help him. “She wants that ground and she’ll get a bit further next year. “We were trying to get her out on the grass, she came into us late. We had her entered next week if something happened but she doesn’t need to run again.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
