Carroll still red-hot in Gowran Park sunshine

In-form jockey Gary Carroll continued his golden run with victory aboard 8/1 shot Many Tears in the opening three-year-old fillies' maiden in Gowran Park.

The Showcasing filly broke well to lead in this seven-furlong assignment before taking a lead off Machnamh before the half-way stage.

Many Tears came off the bridle turning for home, but she found for Carroll and was back in front a furlong and a half down. Golden Spangle looked the danger as she loomed large on the outer, but Many Tears was resolute on the climb for home.

The front two had the race to themselves deep in the final furlong and flashed past the post with Many Tears a neck in front.

The winner certainly didn't go unbacked having been as big as 20/1 this morning before going off at 8s. The runner-up was the 6/5 favourite.

Machnamh, a stablemate of Golden Spangle, kept at it in third at 7/2 from 13/2. She was two and a quarter lengths off the battle for first place.

Trainer Ger Lyons said: “That's as quick as she wants it and she's still as green as grass.

“We'll see how the handicapper treats her. I don't know whether she's streetwise enough for a fillies handicap, but that's where we'll have to go.

“As always with these fillies you start thinking of black-type but she's a long way from that, as are most of them at home at the minute but they are starting to turn a corner or we are starting to place them where they need to be.

“Gary is riding out of his skin.

“At this track you used to be able to ride a race but for the past few years if you get on the pace, even with a 50/1 shot, you can't get beat. I hope that's not the case because I love this track and hate seeing a bias like that.

“I genuinely thought, not that we could have any confidence with the way my horses are running, that unless there was a star in it she would win.”

When asked if anything had been amiss with his horses he added: “There has been a huge thing missing, it's called ability! We don't have it. Our two-year-olds are okay.

“I've had such a good run of it for the last 10 years, so I just have to suck it up and learn how to train and place these horses properly. It's been easy for the last while.”

This was Carroll's 10th winner since May 16th. He had a treble at Listowel on Saturday and a double at the Kerry track yesterday.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson