State Actor sparkles in Curragh feature

Course and distance maiden winner State Actor was sent off 11/2 favourite for the QuinnBet Emerald Mile Handicap and produced a sparkling performance to score under replacement rider Danny Sheehy.

Sheehy had been due to ride Rahmi on which he won the corresponding race a year ago but was replaced by Johnny Murtagh's stable jockey Ben Coen when the latter's intended mount Shayzann was scratched.

When Declan McDonogh was stood down after an incident before the opening two-year-old maiden, Sheehy was called up for the spare ride on State Actor. Dropped in towards the rear of the field, the winner had plenty to do entering the final quarter-mile but once the gaps opened, the gelded son of Raven's Pass quickened up smartly to beat Kayhana by three-parts of a length.

“He gave him a terrific ride, he's a good kid,” said Bill Farrell who trains the winner for Gary Davis.

“The horse grew up today, the last day when he won his maiden it was very messy.

“The handicapper won't be easy on us but he's probably a decent horse.

“We'll go home and digest it all and see, and praise ourselves for one night!

“Chances are he'll go for another premier handicap but I don't mind going for black-type if they can do that in a handicap.

“That's only his fourth race so it's a good performance and he handled the ground well.

“It's no great shock to me because he's very well bred on the dam's side.

“It's satisfying because I saw him in a field as a young horse and I just liked him. We've got this far by being patient and that's gratifying.”

Quotes from Gary Carson