Quartz bounces back in style after Gowran mishap

Clear Quartz bounced back from a recent mishap at Gowran, as he comfortably accounted for his rivals in the Killarney Outlook Handicap.

The Mark Fahey trained gelding stood in the stalls at Gowran and was sent off a 14/1 chance this evening with Gavin Ryan in the saddle.

Having broke smartly today, the son of Slade Power settled behind the leaders on the inner and was pushed along in pursuit of the front-running Pimstrel from the two furlong pole.

Ridden to the front inside the final 200 yards, the Jean Bird owned five-year-old soon powered clear, coming home four lengths to the good.

The well-backed Stay Local (7/2 in early shows, returned the 15/8 favourite) didn't get the run of the race and kept on well to take second under Wayne Lordan for Aidan Howard, while the aforementioned Pimstrel (10/1) was another length-and-a-half away in third.

Mark Fahey said in the aftermath: "I don't know what happened to him the last day, it was just one of those things with racing and horses and you don't know what they're thinking. He got a fright in the stalls and the stalls' handlers had to come in and help but it was just got a fright and he is in no way un-genuine.

"He jumped out fine today, did everything the way he usually does and won well.

"The rain came in time and Gavin gave him a great ride. He is a soft ground horse so we don't know how far more we can go with him and might have to wait until the ground gets soft again."

STEWARDS REPORTS

At the request of the Stewards, Sylvia O'Donnell, rider of Extensio trained by P.F.O'Donnell, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that she had not intended to be as far back but she had a bad draw and broke slowly.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Cometh The Man trained by Adrian McGuinness, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes