Kingston Girl ends long barren spell for Comer

Kingston Girl provided Luke Comer with his first win in almost seven years, as she took the finale at Killarney, the ML Lynch Civil Engineering INH Flat Race.

Last successful with Confidence at Dundalk back in December of 2011, the Co Meath based multi-millionaire had gone close on a number of occasions in recent months.

Kingston Girl in fact was placed on two of her previous four efforts, and went down by just a length and a head on her last visit to Killarney in July.

She since finished eleventh of twenty at Galway, and was sent off at 16/1 today with Derek Kelly, recording his first win, in the saddle.

Settled behind the leaders, the bay daughter of Yeats was ridden to lead from the three furlong pole, and kept on well from there to see off the challenge of newcomer Chead Solas by half a length.

The runner-up was returned at 5/1 under Tom Hamilton for Joseph O'Brien, while She'stherightone (9/2) was twenty-one lengths back in third.

The Willie Mullins trained Redfield was sent off the 3/1 favourite, and he finished a disappointing seventh.

Kelly said: "I rode one point-to-point winner but that's my first winner under rules and I'm absolutely delighted.

"I'd like to say thank you very much to Luke and Margaret Comer, John Kingston (breeder and Comer's representative) and Jim Gorman, who is assistant in the yard. I'm full time in the yard and ride his bumper horses.

"I'm 47 and from Enniskerry and I've worked for Madame Head in France and Guy Harwood and rode professionally in the south of France as well.

"She is a lovely mare and is straightforward with plenty of ability."

John Kingston (winning breeder and Comer's racing manager) added: "She is from a very old national hunt family and it was only touch and go whether to enter here and it was at 11.30am on Tuesday when I decided to enter her, with 10 minutes to go.

"We'll probably try her in a winners' bumper next.

"Luke sponsored races in the Curragh today and was up there today and is also sponsoring the St Leger there in a few weeks time.

"In fact, he sponsored the Pope coming to Ireland too and was the biggest contributor to his visit to Ireland. He got luck for it!"

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Stewards received a request from J.R. Barry, trainer, to substuite the nominated rider, Mr. H.D. Dunne with Mr. D. O'Connor. Evidence was heard from the trainer concerned, who stated that the intended rider had rode work for him at the Curragh on Monday where it was confirmed by both parties that he would ride Steel Tornado in Killarney today. He said he was talking to the rider after declaration time yesterday when Mr. Dunne informed him that he was unavailable owing to holidays. Having considered the evidence, the Stewards allowed the substitution on this occasion and referred the matter to the C.E.O of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board for further investigation.

Under the provisions of Rule 90 (iii), the Stewards allowed Rainy Night Insoho trained by Seamus Spillane, to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the horse was correctly vaccinated in accordance with Rule 91.

Mr J.J. Codd, rider of Rainy Night Insoho trained by Seamus Spillane, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount stopped quickly.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes