Moss Tucker a Group 3 winner in Phoenix Sprint Stakes

Moss Tucker gained the biggest win of his career to date when keeping on strongly under Billy Lee to win the Group 3 Rathasker Stud Phoenix Sprint Stakes at the Curragh.

A dual Listed winner for trainer Ken Condon, the admirable five-year-old jumped out smartly under the double scoring Billy Lee and made just about all of the running.

The well fancied Shartash lost all chance when rearing as the stalls opened, eventually trailing in over 60 lengths behind the field.

British raider Commanche Falls who was sent off the 2/1f was off the bridle at halfway and could find no more, as Ano Syra and Go Athletico threw down the final challenges to the Condon trained sprinter.

At the line, Moss Tucker had two-and-a-quarter lengths to spare over Go Athletico, with Ano Syra a head back in third.

“It's great to have him, we need him. He has a great record at the Curragh and he was good today,” said Condon.

“He just seemed to enjoy it, the ears were forward and Billy said he never felt like they were going to get him. He just lengthened and extended the whole way to the line.

“He didn't have the likes of Art Power to contend with, I suppose. There was no obvious pace maker and maybe it just suited him but you have to have the horse to respond to it and he did.

“He was very good and for a sprinter he's ultra reliable. To be fair to him he goes on most ground, he does seem to be better when it's heavy or testing.

“We took the view that if he didn't run here and we waited for the Flying Five there could be a dry spell, we are due a bit of a break in the weather, and then where would you be?

“The l'Abbaye has been sort of the plan all year. He ran well there last year and does handle those testing conditions. He might go straight there now but if the ground is on the right side for him in the Flying Five he'll go there.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson