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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

125/1 first double for O'Sullivan as Image scores on debut

Thu 21st Jul 2022, 21:07

Dark Image and Michael O'Sullivan (right) come to claim Elle Klassycco and Jodie TownendDark Image and Michael O'Sullivan (right) come to claim Elle Klassycco and Jodie Townend
© Photo Healy Racing

Dark Image provided Michael O'Sullivan with a quick double, the first of his career on the racecourse proper, in the finale at Limerick, the Cube Printing Irish EBF Fillies INH Flat Race

Successful in the previous contest on The Holmeister O'Sullivan was completing a 125/1 brace on Eoin McCarthy's newcomer.

A daughter of Awtaad, the bay victor was bought by owner Sean Maguire for just 3,000 pounds at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale in October of 2020.

As short as 8/1 in early shows, the four-year-old proved friendless with punters, opening on-course at 25s before going off a 20/1 chance.

Settled in mid-division on the outer, she took closer order from early in the straight and was ridden in third from over a furlong out.

She was pushed along to lead inside the final 100 yards, going on to score comfortably by a length-and-a-quarter. Elle Klassycco who drifted from 15/8 to 3/1 on-course, couldn't hold off the winner in the closing stages and had to settle for second under Jody Townend for Willie Mullins. Ah Fuhgeddaboudit who was returned the 11/4 favourite was another two-and-a-quarter lengths back in third.

"She is a lovely, well-bred filly and her half-brother (Steady Pace) was rated 108 on the flat for Godolphin. Sean (Maguire, owner) put her in last year to run on the flat but I begged him hold tough for a bumper. He is a great supporter of the yard and said he'd wait.

"Sean bought her from David Menuisier's as a two-year-old. She wasn't sold for any reason only her previous owner was getting out and she is a lovely filly who should have a bright future.

"She jumps well, is only a baby and Sean wants to build a broodmare band so will keep her."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.