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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Coen grabs brace of winners on Gibraltar

Sat 13th Aug 2022, 20:02

Gibraltar leads home SheishybridGibraltar leads home Sheishybrid
© Photo Healy Racing

Ben Coen was another jockey to post an across-the-card double when he steered Gibraltar home in the extended two mile handicap at Tramore.

Gibraltar relished this staying test as he made good progress into the dip before being ridden to challenge Sheishybrid in the final furlong.

Coen's mount came home the stronger as he got the better of the argument in the closing stages.

The 85/40 favourite won going away by two and a half lengths from the 9/4 second favourite.

Coen said: "That's my first winner for Willie (Mullins), thank God. Chatting to Colin (Keane) he probably won fairly well the last day at Leopardstown. Willie said to keep it fairly simple.

"He was a little sluggish away, they went a nice even gallop and I was happy to sit out the back. He travelled into the straight nice and quickened up well. He leaned a little bit right under pressure but Colin said that is just him. I'm delighted.

"When I was in behind, I was travelling quite nice and when I pulled him out it took a few strides for him to warm up into it, but once I got him into top gear I was fairly confident.

"We didn't go quick, we didn't go slow, we went nice and even and it suited him, he travelled lovely. He gets that two-mile trip really well and there is plenty of those big handicaps for him."

Coen won the first race at the Curragh today on Johnny Murtagh's Daamberdiplomat

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy

1st
85/40Fav
Tote €3.13 €1.50
2nd
2.5L
9/4
€1.40
3rd
2.5L
11/4
4th
2.5L
10/1
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.