Inis Meain© Photo Healy Racing
Owner Barry Connell is making preparations for a trip to Royal Ascot with his Inis Meain following the gelding's win in the featured Listed Martin Molony Stakes at Limerick today.
Ridden by Connell's retained rider Danny Mullins, the gelding initially settled in third behind 9/10 favourite and free-running An Saincheann (for Dawn Approach's connections). Early in the straight Mullins made his move to lead and, once An Saincheann folded, from there went on to record a snug four and a half lengths win.
Mullins, winning trainer Denis Hogan (chosing to don both his trainer/jockey's hats at Sligo) and Connell were all recording first wins at Flat Listed level and Connell later reported “ we can get out top hats out now because the plan from here is to run at Royal Ascot.
“The Wolferton Stakes, a limited handicap on Gold Cup day, is now on his agenda and hopefully he won't get anything for winning this as he appeared to run to his mark.
“We thought coming here that the track, ground and trip suited and while he normally makes the running, Bolger's filly (An Saincheann) went off at a million miles an hour and we just sat-in.”
He added “he was very unlucky when he fell in the Boylesports Hurdle at Leopardstown as it seemed to affect him mentally and didn't seem happy over hurdles after. He'll be kept going in those Listed races now though and probably won't return to hurdling as he is good enough at this job.”
Inis Meain made his career debut for Jim Bolger at Wexford in 2010 and was today proving a career highlight for trainer since then Denis Hogan.
By Thomas Weekes
