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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Malta on the mark back at Galway

Sat 5th Aug 2023, 17:47

Dragon Of Malta and Colin Keane beat ShawaamekhDragon Of Malta and Colin Keane beat Shawaamekh
© Photo Healy Racing

Dragon Of Malta got on top inside the final furlong to run out a cosy winner of the Ardilaun Hotel Handicap at Galway for trainer Pat O'Donnell.

The Dragon Pulse gelding had recorded his most recent win over course and distance in September 2021 and went to post 4/1 favourite to get back into the winners enclosure this afternoon.

Colin Keane produced his mount to claim front-runner Shawaamekh in the final 150 yards and he could afford to coast close home as he secured a two-and-a-quarter length win.

"Before Colin hit the ground at Killarney he said 'Galway, lads'. He had looked at his previous form and he folded a tiny bit in Killarney (finishing third) but seven furlongs here was spot on,” said O'Donnell.

"His form is very solid and there were a lot of ducks in a row today. It is hard to get him early in the year but he comes to form in the autumn and that's just him.

"Peter Keogh, from Knocklong, who heads up the syndicate, is with us three or four years and makes the entries, decides on who rides him etc and we try him have the horses fit and healthy. I like to think we do things to a very high standard and it is a team effort.

"I have no idea where we're going next!"

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)

1st
4/1Fav
Tote €5.00 €1.60
2nd
2.25L
6/1
€2.00
3rd
1L
14/1
€3.30
4th
1.5L
11/2
€1.30
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.