Shimmerz a shock 40/1 winner under Rutledge

Shimmerz was a shock 40/1 winner of the PG Duffy & Sons Citroen Apprentice Handicap.

The daughter of Fast Company had shown very little in eight previous starts and came into this with an official rating of just 39.

Having led early, she tracked Verhoyen from before halfway and, in receipt of 25lb from that rival, got the upper hand inside the final furlong to beat the joint-topweight by two and a quarter lengths.

Charles O'Brien trains the winner, a half-sister to Dundalk specialist Grey Danube, for the Allegro Syndicate.

“Gary (O'Brien of the Allegro Syndicate) said to me to break and travel wherever you are comfortable and he said make your best way home after that,” said Rutledge.

“I said to him 'go and win?' and he said if you win on her we'll have to bring you home so I'm going home with them now I think!

“It was a bit of a surprise but in fairness to Gary he was confident in her work at home. As much as it's a surprise he knew that she had ability and they are delighted.

“She handled the ground really well and I'd say some others didn't today. I'd be trying to place her for soft ground if I was him.

“I'm grateful for all the opportunities I'm getting. I can't believe how well it's going but at the same time I suppose I am putting the work in and it's nice to get rewarded.”

Quotes from Gary Carson