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Tom Weekes

Tom Weekes

Well-backed Bloom bags Down Royal's opener

Sat 19th Jun 2021, 13:56

Cherry Bloom beating Caleta SunriseCherry Bloom beating Caleta Sunrise
© Photo Healy Racing

Cherry Bloom was the well backed winner of the opening Lagan Valley Steels Maiden at Down Royal today, scoring for owner/breeder Renzo Forni, trainer Willie McCreery and jockey Chris Hayes.

The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor was a 14/1 shot after the withdrawal of morning second-favourite Arges at 9.30am but was well eventually backed in to 7/2 at the off and in the race beat Caleto Sjun by a length and a quarter. Hot Sunset (20/1) finished well and was an eye-catcher in third.

Afterwards jockey Hayes later said "she's a lovely filly and I thought if she had built on her first run she have a great shout.

"They went very quick and I got into their slipstream and travelled nice, and from the road I used a bit of stamina into it. I didn't want to be sitting in and then asking her to get out over the road, I wanted her to have plenty of light going into it and it worked.

"Willie (McCreery) was confident she would stay further and I think she will. I don't know what he has in mind for her, but she is a grand filly and I think she will win more races."

Quotes from Michael Graham

1st
7/2
Tote €4.10 €1.10
2nd
1.25L
9/4Fav
€2.10
3rd
1.75L
20/1
€6.50
4th
0.5L
12/1
About Tom Weekes
A lifelong racing fan, Tom began writing point to point reports in 2002 and has reported for irishracing.com since 2003, when he joined Irish Racing Services - since taken over by the Press Association. Has ridden a point to point winner and won the 2018 Irish Field Naps Table.