Whelan works wonders again as Wannabe grabs Listed prize Henry de Bromhead and Ronan Whelan completed a remarkable big-priced double when Wannabe Royal struck at 33/1 in the Owenstown Stud Stakes at Naas. The pair, fresh off the 50/1 success of Totally Puzzled in the preceding maiden, teamed up again with another outsider in the Listed contest. Wannabe Royal went to the front after a furlong in the seven-furlong contest but looked set to be swallowed up in the closing stages. Greek Mythology joined her passing the furlong pole and briefly stuck his head in front in the closing stages. Wannabe Royal proved a very willing partner for Whelan, however, and soon regained the lead before then holding the late charge of Expanded late on to secure a head victory. "She is a lovely filly. An amazing ride from Ronan again, he is riding out of his skin,” said de Bromhead. “She really battled back. Ronan said we needed seven on a bend, in fairness to him. So when he came out I said 'now, you've got seven on a bend.' “In fairness, he got it right. He was spot on. I'm delighted for the Marigas, great supporters of ours, great breeders. She's obviously a valuable filly for the paddocks. "It was my fault the last day. We ran at the Curragh and, she ran a cracker in the Gladness over seven. “I got it in my head she wanted six. There was a six the following week on soft ground in Cork and we went there and I got it completely wrong." (Quotes by John O’Riordan)
