Orr draws level with Slattery in Apprentice Championship

Oisin Orr drew level with Andrew Slattery at the head of the Apprentice Jockeys' Championship at Leopardstown today as he steered the Dermot Weld trained, regally bred Amma Grace to win the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Maiden.

The daughter of Galileo finished a promising third on debut at Cork in September and today showed the benefit of that experience when beating staying-on newcomer Roca Roma by three parts of a length.

Amma Grace is a sibling to Weld's recent Irish St Leger winner Search For A Song, his top class Group 1 winner Free Eagle, along with the yard's Group 2 winner Sapphire and David O'Meara's fellow Group 2 winner Custom Cut.

Kris Weld, representing his father Dermot, later stated “the ground has gone very testing, even for the first race, as we had plenty of rain overnight and this morning.

“The race fell apart and she was in front sooner than we wanted but she's very brave and honest.

“Oisin felt she was going away again at the line and it actually took him a while to pull her up.

“She'll want much better ground and hopefully will be a nice filly for next year. We'll bring her back next year now and hopefully she can continue to do the family proud.”

The win moves jockey Orr to the 40 winner mark for the season, equaling Andrew Slattery's current total in a fascinating duel.

Quotes from Gary Carson