Carlitos Bay and Ruby Walsh© Photo Healy Racing
Champion Jockey Ruby Walsh pegged back this season’s early leader Davy Russell with a double at Cork today, completed on Carlitos Bay in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Hurdle.
Twelve times Champion Walsh was earlier successful on Willie Mullins’ Coquin Mans and on Carlitos Bay, moved to the 24 winner mark for the new season, 11 behind Russell, who partnered Brutal to win the opener today.
After Carlitos Bay’s easy seven lengths win, winning trainer Peter Fahey, himself enjoying a purple patch, stated “he (Carlitos Bay) makes a bit of a liar of you every day you go racing with him!
“I’m delighted to be honest as after he ran the last time, I told the owners we’d never run him over hurdles again. He has disappointed so many times, but even since his last run (July 14), he worked well at home twice and I said we’ll chance him once more over hurdles and it worked out.
“Getting Ruby was a big help as well as he codded him along. He doesn’t find a lot off the bridle but first-time in blinkers also helped and it all clicked together today.
“His last two bits of work have been very good and he has had a few wind issues and lost his confidence a bit.
“Fingers crossed he goes on and we’ll probably see what the handicapper does but we could go on over fences now. I’m delighted to get a winner for the syndicate and I remember those colours for many years when they had horses with Dessie Hughes.”
Carlitos Way is a 1993 American crime film where character Carlito Brigante (Al Pacino) tries to give up his criminal ways, but is sucked back into the New York City underworld.
