Winemaker follows up dropping down to sprint distance

The PC Finance Handicap appeared a wide open event beforehand and so it proved with Winemaker just coming out on top under Gavin Ryan.

At least eight of the 13 runners were challenging for the lead at the furlong pole in this five-furlong sprint and it was the Diego Dias-trained gelding that came out on top.

The 7/1 shot, who was following up a win over seven furlongs here last month, just held off the late surge of My Girl Sioux by a short-head with American In Paris a length and three-quarters back in third.

Dias was leading up the gelding and Ryan commented, "He is a horse that has never really felt as good as he has this winter. Diego has done a brilliant job on him.

"He's had plenty of racing and he has got his rub of the green a couple of times but, whatever has come into his head since he has got back onto the all-weather, he's a different horse. It has really rejuvenated him and he's probably running in the form of his life.

"We didn't think coming back to five (furlongs) was ideal but, because of the form he was in, we had to take a chance.

"He is a horse that has always operated on tighter tracks on the turf, like Listowel, because he has plenty of speed early on. He definitely has options."

Quotes by Michael Graham