Gazelle d'Or lands Joe McGrath Handicap for Grassick Unlucky in running when sixth at the same track on Champions Weekend, the Michael Grassick trained Gazelle d'Or gained some compensation when landing the HearMed Your Health, Your Hearing Joe McGrath Handicap (Premier Handicap) at the Curragh. A four-time previous winner, the filly flashed home to finish sixth in the Bold Lad Handicap on her most recent visit here, despite having to wait for the gaps to open late on. Dropping back to the minimum trip this afternoon, the 9/1 chance enjoyed a far less troubled passage in this smaller field. Coming through on the stands side to head Mint Man over 100 yards out, the Chris Hayes partnered three-year-old held the late run of Kendall Roy by a neck. Michael Grassick said: “It probably should have been a double but I’d say the filly in the first just parked a little bit in front, and probably wants better ground as well. “This filly is a different filly over five. She was drawn one and she ends up over on the stand’s side, she lost a lot of ground to come over but she needs cover. “She just runs too keen over the six. She was a little bit unlucky in the Scurry and the last day, she probably should have been third or fourth the last day. “She’s a hardy filly, I’d like to try and get a bit of black-type with her. There are no five furlong races but I might look at the Listed race next weekend (Brigid’s Pastures Stakes). “I might look at taking her to France next year. She seems to want an ease in the ground.” Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
