Moss Tucker, second right, has them in trouble© Photo Healy Racing
Moss Tucker was thoroughly professional in retaining the Listed Woodlands Stakes over five furlongs at Naas.
The top-weight travelled powerfully for Billy Lee and went on racing to the final furlong.
He was given the office inside the furlong pole and bolted up by two lengths at 4/1. Ocean Quest the 5/2 favourite, took the runner-up berth without landing a glove on the winner. Go Athletico (7/2) ran third, beaten three lengths by the victor.
The six-year-old winner has clearly returned in fine fettle as he didn't need his comeback run this time.
Ken Condon said: “That was a very good performance with ten stone. He was very relaxed and Billy said he went through the race lovely. He said that’s as good as he’s felt on a seasonal return.
“We had a few little things that held us up earlier in the spring and a few weeks ago we were thinking this might come too early for him. The last ten days or so he’s come to himself.
“Donal (Spring, owner/breeder) is not here as I’d said two weeks ago that he was unlikely to run, so he made plans to go to Italy for the weekend.
“He might go for the Greenlands and he’s entered for both sprints at Royal Ascot. He obviously won’t go there if it’s lightning fast ground, so the weather will decide.
“Later on there is the Flying Five and maybe the Champions Day at Ascot.”
Moss Tucker won a Group 1 in the Flying Five at the Curragh last season.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
