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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Joe McGrath aim for improving Ostraka

Sat 7th Sep 2024, 16:26

Ostraka and James Ryan Ostraka and James Ryan
© Photo Healy Racing

Ostraka had received a form boost in the previous race at Navan and bagged a follow up win in style when landing the Rathkenny Handicap.

The Danny Murphy-trained filly had beaten Irish Rumour at the Curragh a fortnight ago and that rival collected 35 minutes beforehand.

James Ryan produced Ostraka to lead a furlong from home and the well-backed 15/2 shot (12/1 this morning) soon asserted to record a convincing length-and-three-quarter success over Red Letter Bray

Murphy said: "We bought this animal in February, and Michael Halford who we bought her off will tell you as well, she has a bad back.

"This chap from Belgium used to come over to John Oxx 35 years ago and his son is better at it - I tried everybody including chiropractors since we bought her, and that owner has had some patience. It is his first ever horse.

"Your man Philippe came in and he yanked her back and looked at me and said in a Belgian accent ' that will either kill her or cure her!'

"She was 460kg on that day and today she is 495kg. She is a grand filly.

"It is great to get a winner. We are having a disaster of a year and starting to come right now.

"The Joe McGrath (in the Curragh) will be the aim for her."

(Quotes by Michael Graham)

1st
15/2
Tote €8.50 €2.20
2nd
1.75L
11/1
€3.60
3rd
1.25L
11/2
€1.50
4th
0.75L
18/1
bf
hd
15/8Fav
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.