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Gary Carson

Gary Carson

Thunder strikes for Hassett

Fri 30th Oct 2020, 17:16

Maggie Thunder and Declan McDonoghMaggie Thunder and Declan McDonogh
© Photo Healy Racing

Maggie Thunder swooped inside the final furlong to land the spoils in the five-furlong handicap at Dundalk.

The 20/1 shot chased front-runner red Cymbal before running down that rival in the closing stages to record a two-and-a-half length win under Declan McDonogh.

The daughter of Alhebayeb was trying the minimum trip for the first time having been fourth at Naas on her last outing in early August.

Garrett Hassett, son of the winning trainer, said:- “She's a good tough filly. That's the first time over five and Declan told us to try her over it after riding her the last two times.

“She was a bit dead when we came back from Naas in August so we gave her a break and brought her back.

“We thought she'd handle the surface, she had run once here last year for another trainer, as she has a small quick action.

“Obviously she had a very bad draw and I didn't know if she would be able to lie up over the five but Declan said she did no problem and stayed on well at the end.

“He said you could step her back up to six or keep her at five so hopefully there is another day or two in her.

“She actually grew when we gave her the break, she went up a bit behind, so I thought there was a bit of improvement in her.

“She's a good genuine, honest filly and we're lucky to have her. We've had three runners this year and three winners so we can't ask for any more than that.”

1st
20/1
Tote €14.80 €2.10
2nd
2.5L
4/1
€1.80
3rd
1.5L
10/3Fav
€1.90
4th
nose
15/2
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.