Cries of 'Up Monaghan' ringing out still With a visor on for the first time Spiral Galaxy shed his maiden tag at the seventh time of asking in the Mid Summer Raceday July 14th Handicap at Navan. Oisin Orr donned the silks of the Up Monaghan Syndicate on Anthony McCann's charge, and the 14/1 shot ran out a convincing four and a half length victor over Camile. Spiral Galaxy did well to upstage that rival, the market-leader, seeing as her trainer and rider, Joseph and Donnacha O'Brien, have been carrying all before them. "He's not a bad little horse. The first day he ran for us he finished second at Dundalk and he was very unlucky as he was the winner before the line and after the line," said McCann. "He disappointed me big time the last day in Tipperary. I had to put a line through it because I couldn't see what went wrong. The trip and the ground, maybe he didn't handle it. "He's a nice horse and he jumps well, he could jump a hurdle. I don't know what to do with him now, I didn't think he'd do it as well as he did there. Hopefully the handicapper won't be too hard on him. "It's a great syndicate. They are from all over the country, from Roscommon, Cavan, Louth and from Monaghan. It's great to get syndicates like that together. They've had great enjoyment today and it's been a great day for it. "Everyone in the syndicate knew Oliver (Brady) and 'Up Monaghan' was one of Oliver's favourite sayings. "There are eight shares and we are all a big family." R.P. Cleary, rider of Bay Of St Malo trained by Luke W. Comer, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount was carried off his line in the straight. The Stewards interviewed R.C. Colgan, rider of Jensen, concerning his use of the whip in this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards found the rider in breach of Regulation 10. 3.(g) by using his whip with the arm above shoulder height and having taken his record into account suspended him for three race days. (GC & EM)
