L-R Mick Hussey, Tom Cleary, Rory Cleary, Connor King© Photo Healy Racing
Tom Cleary was the second trainer in as many months to admit to being 'blown away' by the performance of one of his charges, when his Sophies Echo landed the Martins Scaffolding Supporting Naas Hurling Handicap at Naas today.
Ridden by capable claimer Connor King, Sophie's Echo was produced to lead a furlong out and stayed on well to defeat Smoke Charger by two and a half lengths. The winner's stablemate Sweet Annathea filled the third spot.
Cleary's son Rory led up the winner having missed the winning ride through injury. Cleary, based with Jim Bolger, has been absent since suffering concussion in a fall at Leopardstown on June 13 but is due to return at Tipperary tomorrow.
Cleary subsequently borrowed a line used in jest by the aforementioned Bolger following Dawn Approach's 2,000 Guineas win, saying “I was blown away by her - I didn't think she was ready!”
He added “it's time they started coming into form! Sophies Choice has had her problems and to be honest I thought she'd need the run; they'd make liars out of you every day and I wasn't sure about the ground for her either! I knew Sweet Annathea was in the form of her life and she seems to be getting better with age. I might wait for Galway with both of them now.”
By Thomas Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson
