Maunganui keeps at it for Shane Foley© Photo Healy Racing
Shane Foley was in double-winning form at Sligo courtesy of front-running Maunganui (6-1) who found plenty for pressure to take the extended mile and a quarter handicap by a length and three quarters.
The four-year-old gelding was ridden entering the home straight and was there to be shot at by a host of rivals.
He was tough in the final furlong, though, as he closed out the race from Lady Rosebud (5/1) and Bruinneall (33/1).
Trainer Jarlath Fahey said: “It’s great to get a win out of him as he’s home bred by Gerry (Callanan). He’s been knocking on the door and Shane said he liked the ground tonight.
“Shane said he’s a bit lazy and the ups and downs and twists and turns suit him to keep his mind on the game. Hopefully he can get a bit of confidence and follow up again.
“It’s 50-50 whether Sea The Lion goes over (for the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes on Friday). Up to this morning when the ground was good we were going.
“We were to travel tomorrow but we are going to see what happens and delay it until tomorrow evening. Soft ground will be a no go.
“A lot of rain is forecast for tonight and early in the morning. We’ll see how much does fall and what’s the realistic chance of it drying before Friday.
“We deliberately gave him a longer break as the targets we have for him are in the autumn. We didn’t see any point in having him ready in March and April as he wants good ground.
“He’s entered for the Irish St Leger, and we are contemplating going back for the Ebor if we can get into it but he has to prove his worth before then.
“He’s fit and ready and we had to start him somewhere. We didn’t want to run him in our own Premier Handicaps and have to carry top-weight, so that’s why we are going to England, and Ascot fitted in nicely.”
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
