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Motashakel gets up late to open account

Motashakel and Chris Hayes (nearest) gets up to beat Syrena (centre) and Channel Stuffer (far side) Motashakel and Chris Hayes (nearest) gets up to beat Syrena (centre) and Channel Stuffer (far side)
© Photo Healy Racing

Kevin Prendergast is hoping Motashakel can make up into a stakes performer after he got up late to grab the spoils in the median auction maiden at Leopardstown.

The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned colt went to post the 7/2 favourite having finished runner-up at the Curragh last month.

Chris Hayes tracked the leaders before asking his mount for an effort passing the two pole. He looked under pressure in third going to the furlong marker but stuck on gamely in the closing stages to get up close home.

The son of Olympic Glory recorded a neck success over Syrena with the same distance back to Channel Stuffer

“He has a good attitude, he's a very very kind horse and he wants to be stepped up another furlong with a little ease in the ground,” said Prendergast.

“He could be competitive at a higher division hopefully. Races like the Beresford at the back end could be possible.

“He's a heavy horse and I'd say a bit of juice in the ground wouldn't do him any harm.”

About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.