Sondheim and Neve Bennett.© Photo Healy Racing
In the saddle for his two previous career wins, jockey Neve Bennett brought up the three-timer on Sondheim when guiding the Craig O'Neill trained seven-year-old to a comfortable success in the Conference & Banqueting Facilities At Limerick Racecourse Handicap.
Making his first start since last September, the 22/1 chance settled nicely in mid division, gradually creeping into contention throughout the last half-mile. Clarinbridge who led from the outset, looked there for the taking early in the straight, as Trueba waited for a gap on the inner. However, all the while, Bennett moved closer on Sondheim, taking third on the outside with a furlong still to race.
Heading Clarinbridge inside the final furlong, Sondheim kept on nicely to win by a snug one-and-a-quarter lengths with Trueba eventually finishing back in third.
Craig O'Neill said: "He isn't the easiest horse to ride and Neve does all the work with him at home and gets on very well with him. It is brilliant to get the win as her father has travelled over and it is his first time to see her ride.
"He likes that top of the ground, had previously won in Dundalk and that is now twice that he has come back from a long layoff to win. He likes to run fresh."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
