Donal Murphy
Formula One comes from last to first under Foley
Formula One is ridden out by Shane Foley
© Photo Healy Racing
The regally-bred Formula One came from last to first to take the Sign Up For A Tote Account Handicap.
By Frankel out of 2012 Prix de l'Abbaye heroine Wizz Kid, the four-year-old gelding was previously trained in the UK by Hugo Palmer, winning on his second start at Ffos Las.
Having failed to make an impact on his first two starts for Jessica Harrington, he came in for plenty of market support today.
Available at 11/1 in early shows, the Fiona Carmichael & Ballylinch Stud owned bay opened on-course at 8s, before going off an 11/2 chance.
In rear early on, the Shane Foley ridden victor made rapid progress to lead from the five furlong pole.
Ridden approaching the straight, he had a good battle with Greenpanda inside the final furlong, with just three parts of a length separating them at the line.
The runner-up was returned a 4/1 joint-favourite under Ben Coen for Gavin Cromwell, while Melburnian (10/1) was another length away in third. Marlborough Sounds was the other joint-favourite, but he could only manage a disappointing tenth.
"Shane said he wasn't going to argue with him so he just left him on," said Kate Harrington.
"Hopefully that'll act as a big confidence booster for him and it'll be on to Galway and Listowel.
"The soft ground is key with him."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Marlborough Sounds (GB), trained by John Joseph Murphy, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal but had evidence of kickback at his nostrils.
Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy