Sphagnum and Dillon Maxwell (left)© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Shane Broderick was on the mark at Wexford today as his Sphagnum (7/1) landed the Support The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund Handicap Chase for the appropriately-named Peat Moss Syndicate.
Ridden by Dillon Maxwell, the seven-year-old raced with the pace, led at the last and, on rain-softened ground, maintained his gallop to the line for a hard-fought, fourth career win.
Afterwards Maxwell said “the conditions are very tough: he is usually a good ground horse and I was worried about what way he would handle it but seemed to handle it fierce well. It was the best he ever jumped.
“He blew himself up at the top of the hill and made a mistake and while I didn't think he'd get home, I stood up for a few strides to let him get his breath back. He got a second-wind though and loves a battle. It was the plan to keep him wide for the best of the ground.”
He added “the last day in Sligo he just came up against a better horse and I'd say he'd like even further. He is a horse that doesn't have a whole lot of gears but he seems to stay plugging away all day."
Quotes from Donal Murphy
