'Heavy investment' paying off as dashing Douglas leads home 1-2 for Cotter

Co Kildare based trainer Kieran Cotter and owner David Mooney enjoyed a fantastic result in the five furlongs Club Active Gym Handicap at Navan today as their Polly Douglas led home a 1-2 for the pair, who were also responsible for the runner-up Dash D'or

Polly Douglas won three handicaps last year and today, under jockey Dylan Hogan, notched her fourth career success, when scoring a half length success over stablemate Dash D'or, under Conor Hoban.

Both horses carry the colours of owner David Mooney and following the race Cotter said “it's a great result. We thought coming here that the only dangers to Polly or Dash were each other!

“They worked exceptionally well last Wednesday and our camp was divided and I was in the Dash camp as I thought she had too much pace for Polly but here at Navan she's a course and distance winner and she ground it out.

“The other lads at home had Polly backed and they've all done the forecast so they're all happy out.”

Today's result was also a timely one for trainer Cotter who has ambitions plans and added “we've had a few new syndicates coming in, including a Singapore based syndicate that sent us a nice few yearlings, and we hope to pick up a few more. That's a good result now, especially with the yearling sales coming up.

“I've never had a one-two before and to have it for the same owner is a fantastic result.

“Up until last week we hadn't many in training but I think we're up to 15 after the sales and more to come. We've started to invest more heavily in the yard and the facilities, we have great gallops. We're based between Portarlington and Monasterevin.

“The hardest race to win in this country is a 45-65 handicap. It's easier to train a good horse to win a maiden than a 45-65 horse. It's so incredibly tough out there and you're all the time looking for breaks.”

Quotes from Gary Carson