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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Red Sabor ploughs through tough conditions

Sun 21st Aug 2016, 14:44

Red Sabor sees them off in the CurraghRed Sabor sees them off in the Curragh
© Photo Healy Racing

Andrew Slattery's Red Sabor made every yard to grab his first career victory in the six furlong nursery at the Curragh.

He broke away smartly under Declan McDonogh to take the six-runner field along.

McDonogh started to exert his arms in the final quarter of a mile and his mount gamely kept finding.

The remaining five horses were all close enough to deliver a telling blow and it looked like the favourite Ambiguity was beginning to wind up his challenge.

However, Red Sabor was ridden with over a furlong to go and kept up the gallop as Ambiguity's threat failed to materialise.

McDonogh drove his mount home by a length and a half at 13/2. Bective (5/1) and Ronan Whelan got up close home for second from Grecian Divine

“I fancied him the first day and thought he might win but he got a bit of stage fright,” Declan McDonogh said.

“Andy put a pair of blinkers on him and it was a good idea as it seems to have transformed him.

“He's only learning to gallop now and do things right.

“He handled that ground which is horrible, a glue pot.”

Red Sabor had run a week ago in Dundalk when showing improved form to take second to even-money-favourite Swish. Prior to that he had been unplaced at Galway and on debut in Naas.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
13/2
Tote €5.80 €2.60
2nd
1.5L
5/1
€2.20
3rd
0.5L
7/1
4th
1.75L
11/8Fav
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.