Arch Enemy and Sam Coen. © Photo Healy Racing
Having hinted that her turn was close on a couple of occasions of late, Arch Enemy gained a deserved success in the concluding Johnny Kierans Memorial Handicap at Bellewstown.
Given her tendency to be slowly away, the grey mare can often find herself on the backfoot in her races, before finishing off strongly.
Stepping back up to a-mile-and-a-half proved the key this afternoon, as the 7/1 chance stayed on from off the pace under Sam Coen to record a two-and-a-half length win.
Trainer Patrick Magee said: "She ran very well on slow ground here as a two-year-old.
"I'd say the race just panned out lovely, they went a good gallop. I was watching them going down the back and they were going 32/33 the whole way down the back, so I kind of knew they were going to come back. That's what she loves.
"She has been running brilliant races probably in races that the pace wasn't collapsing in front.
"She takes a while to warm up, but she needs the pace to collapse in front of her.
"I ran her over 1m4f last year and she probably wasn't strong enough for it. She looks like she wants it now, she is after strengthening up.
"Listen, over hurdles I still think there is a good day in her.
"She's a great old mare and if I had a few more like her."
On Sam Coen he added: "Kevin O'Ryan (agent) was pushing him to me back in one of the apprentice races and was talking him up bigtime, and for good reason.
"His 10lb is huge in those races."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
