Smurfit's juvenile overcomes problems aplenty

Bay Of Plenty (9/1) managed to win, despite meeting traffic trouble, on debut today, landing Naas' Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden for trainer Johnny Murtagh and under a strong ride from Ben Coen.

Short of room behind a pair of horses with a furlong to race Coen refused to accept defeat, switched the son of New Bay to the stands' side railing, with the gelding quickening to lead in the closing stages, to beat Pier Pressure despite also drifting left.

Murtagh said “that was a nice surprise - we have him in a claimer next Monday so I don't think we'll go there!”

He added “we thought he trialled okay but he got tired the last little bit. I was talking to Tony Smurfit (owner) and I told him he's a handy horse, is tough and hardy - we might be more ambitious than that.

“He was going very well in the spring but behaved badly and we gelded him. Since he came back, his work has been kind of ordinary but he's obviously better on the track. Ben said when he got knocked-down he thought his chance was gone but as soon as he saw daylight he quickened up really well.

“He's still plenty green so he should come on a nice bit. I've nothing in mind, we'll have to stick him in a stakes race or winners race and see where he is.

“I'm delighted for Tony because we haven't been having many winners for him and he's been a great supporter. I'm sure he would have got a good kick out of that one.”

Quotes from Gary Carson