Elliott doubles up at Naas with nice prospect The Caretaker

Gordon Elliott completed a Naas double in the concluding Jordan’s Centra Supporting Kill GAA (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race as The Caretaker built on a promising course and distance debut to win under Jamie Codd.

Codd finished third in the opening four-year-old maiden at the point-to-point in Kirkistown County Down earlier, and the Wexford man made the trip back down south for the spin on Sheila O’Ryan’s The Caretaker.

Mrs O’Ryan, wife of Bobby, and mother of Kevin and Mouse, saw a smart performance from her charge, always well positioned on the inner in a prominent spot by Codd.

Third here in January, the Mukhadram gelding put that experience to good use, against opposition mainly consisting of newcomers.

Pre-race much focus was on Charles Byrnes’ Blazing Khal (7/2 into 13/8 favourite) but he or the rest had no answer to The Caretaker (9/4 out to 11/4 second favourite) from over a furlong out.

The Caretaker eventually prevailed from a pair of ‘old rivals,’ Hardwired and S’All Good Man, by three and a half lengths and a head.

Blazing Khal finished fifth.

“We fancied him the last day, they just went no pace and we dropped him in. He's a nice horse and he's going to win plenty of races,” said Elliott, earlier on the mark with Aramax

“I liked the way he quickened there from the furlong pole, he quickened up well. He was good.”

The winner carries the same moniker as a 1987 Caerleon mare that won the Cartier Million at the Phoenix Park in 89. She went on to breed Mutafaweq and Dimitrova.

(GC & EM)