Tom Weekes
Chocquinto collects with second June success
Chocquinto and Sam Ewing
© Photo Healy Racing
Owner/breeder Tim Bourke welcomed his Chocquinto (13/2) at Down Royal today as the Hilary McLoughlin trained filly gained a second course and distance win this month in the Molson Coors Handicap.
The daughter of Requinto was a 150/1 winner of a Curragh maiden last July and today registered a third career win when beating That's Mad by half a length under jockey Sam Ewing.
Martin Ferris represented his partner Hilary McLoughlin and the ex-jockey later said "she's a nice filly and she wants good ground and an easy five (furlongs). I fancied her but I was just a bit disappointed with being drawn 10.
"Sam claimed 5lb and gave her a lovely ride. There's a race for her in about 10 days time in the Junction (Tipperary) - it's an easy five and that's what she wants.
"Tim (Bourke, owner) is also the breeder and the dam is in foal again."
Bourke, from Cashel, added “we are delighted to come up here and we are actually more delighted for Martin and Hilary as I know the effort they put in. I leave it up to them to decide where she runs and what jockeys to pick.
"This is only the second time seeing her running so it was great to come up. She won the last day here and we were reasonably confident and I think she needs very good ground because she is relatively small.
"I'd like to thank Seamie Heffernan as he told me very early in her career that she was going to win a few races and that she was quick and needed quick, sharp tracks.
"Martin and Hilary have their own stalls and they did a lot of work to build her confidence and get her out so it is great that it is paying off.”
Quotes from Michael Graham