John O'Riordan
Fahey completes quick double with Barrogstown Girl
Barrogstown Girl and Neve Bennett
© Photo Healy Racing
Having won the first division with Nans View just over half-an-hour earlier, trainer Jarlath Fahey completed a quick double when Barrogstown Girl landed Division ll of the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Handicap at the Curragh.
Unlucky in running when sixth at Leopardstown on Sunday, the well supported 10/3 chance stayed on strongly under Neve Bennett to register her third success of the campaign.
Prominent throughout, the four-year-old whom Bennett also rode to her two previous wins, moved up to challenge over a furlong from the finish.
Stablemate Warazam looked set to hold on having made most of the running, only for the whole complexion of the race to change inside the last 100 yards. Gotta Catch'em All Calzaghi and Barrogstown Girl all flashed home, with the last named mare getting up to land the spoils by a head.
“She battled very well in fairness to her. I was a little bit worried about her bouncing two days after her last run, and about the draw,” said Fahey.
“Neve said she was game out, galloped and kept going the whole way to the line. She's a very honest little filly.
“She's probably one that will go hurdling, whether we go now or give her a bit of a break I don't know. We'll have a chat with the owners.
“She was in an online sale recently and there was no interest in her but (my brother) Mick (Fahey) got her sold to a few friends of his and it's paying dividends for them already.
“I didn't have a double up until this year and that's my second of the year now. We're just having a great year, the horses have been healthy and well and running well.
“It's a year that I don't want to see finish but it's great to have had a good year. Hopefully a few of the jumpers can take over now and win a few more for us.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.