Queen Of Alba wins Connaught Derby

The Tom Cleary trained Queen of Alba gained her second win over Sligo's 'Classic distance' when claiming the Connacht Derby Handicap at the course today, adding the win to an already colourful career.

The fashion to add Derby, Oaks and National status to feature races countrywide is catching on and today's ten furlong centrepiece fittingly, or not, went to a former Abu Dhabi winner who afterwards went through the ring for just E800.

Cleary, whose son Rory Cleary partnered Queen Of Alba to what was her third career win, later stated “

“she was a good buy as I bought for the syndicate last year for only E800. Hopefully she'll get blacktype at some stage for breeding purposes.”

He added “she ran in Galway but Rory thought she didn't come down the hill and everything was happening too quick for her. She had a bad draw there and the rain didn't come for her but I was very confident coming here when I saw the ground was yielding to soft.

“She likes sligo and thats her second win here.”

Quotes from Gary Carson