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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Martini shakes them up

Fri 31st May 2019, 18:16

Black Martini beats Inflorescence Black Martini beats Inflorescence
© Photo Healy Racing

Black Martini hung on gamely to land the spoils in the Simplyfruit Handicap at Down Royal.

The Willie McCreery-trained had been placed in a couple of Dundalk maidens last November and was making her handicap debut on her return to action.

Nathan Crosse tracked the leaders on the 8/1 shot and got a lovely split between horses a furlong-and-a-half from home.

The daughter of Street Sense soon hit the front and repelled the challenge of Inflorescence in the closing stages to post a half-length success.

McCreery said: "She's owned by lovely people, Barouche Stud, and I'm delighted to get the first winner for them this year.

"She's a small, little filly but she has a big heart. She's a well-bred filly so it's very important to get a win for her, I'm delighted.

"She stuck it out very well and Nathan gave her a good ride. She's only a small filly and he took 7lb off her back - she only weighs 400 kilos. I thought it was important to get the weight off her.

"She has shown plenty and we'll try and sneak a bit of black type with her before the end of the year. That'll be the aim as she is one for the breeding paddocks in time."

(Quotes by Michael Graham)

1st
8/1
Tote €8.40 €2.20
2nd
0.5L
4/1JFav
€2.20
3rd
5L
16/1
€6.80
4th
0.5L
4/1JFav
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.