Stud boss records rare training success

Michael Hickey, best known as the owner of Sunnyhill Stud near Kilcullen, saddled his first winner for over three years as Somedaysomehow recorded a 14/1 success under Ben Dalton in the opening two miles mares maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse.

The daughter of Old Vic fought out a protracted battle in the straight with the 11/4 favourite Celtic Cailin but was always just getting the better of the argument on the run-in to score by a length and a quarter.

The favourite did her chance no favours with a mistake at the second last, while Akatara (10/1) came home best of all to be just another half-length adrift in third.

Hickey said, “She’s owned by son and his wife Beena. It’s a bit unexpected but it’s great. On a couple of her runs last year she was entitled to win but we didn’t know if she was straight enough.

“With the ground and the weather we didn’t get a schooling race into her. She’s by Old Vic which was half the battle. We’ll keep her over hurdles this year and hopefully the handicapper is not too hard on her.”

Old Vic stood at Sunnyhill Stud until he was put down early last year, while his son Kicking King was bred at the Kilcullen farm. Doyen and Gamut are currently on the stallion roster at Sunnyhill.

Hickey's son Paul has only recently taken out a Flat licence, and sent out his first winner at the Listowel Festival meeting last month.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson