Shoshone Warrior in splendid isolation © Photo Healy Racing
The 1m7f amateur riders race was a one-horse race with John Gleeson catching his rivals napping on all the way winner Shoshone Warrior (7/2).
Soon clear in front, Gleeson steadied the pace a bit at halfway and his mount's advantage was somewhat reduced but once he kicked on again half a mile out the race was over as a contest. He was a dozen lengths clear on straightening up for home and was kept up to his work to beat odds-on stablemate Okita Soushi by an eased-down ten lengths.
It completed a second one-two of the evening for Joseph O’Brien, who achieved the same feat in race six at Limerick, and it was a fourth winner of the evening for the Carriganog handler with doubles at both meetings.
Assistant trainer Brendan Powell remarked: “He's a horse who stays well. He was third in this last year and you'd probably say he didn't go quick enough. He went a gallop today.
“He dropped the other horse in today to switch him off as he can be keen, it's always the way he's ridden.
“He's got a freebie in front. He's five now but he hasn't been gelded that long. He was a massive horse and hard to get fit.
“John has given him a peach of a ride from the front. He stays extremely well and from four out there was no way the other horses were getting to him. He's won well.
“He's got a big long stride on him and he's got a very good cruising speed. It's great for the guys who own him, they've had him a couple of years now.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
