Winemaker and Gavin Ryan© Photo Healy Racing
Brazilian Diego Dias registered a first winner with his second runner as a trainer today, landing Listowel's Shay Rooney Handicap with his lucky horse Winemaker (13/2).
Ridden prominently by Gavin Ryan, the Johnny Barnes-gelding quickened clear of 11 rivals in the straight, scoring by three lengths from Linger For Longer
Winemaker was a debut winner at Naas last August for then owner Dias, who later revealed he and friends enjoyed a 'touch' in backing the 100/1 winner.
Today delighted Dias stated “that's my first winner and my second runner and my other runner finished second last week. I received my license a month ago and have been in Ireland for 20 years, doing breeze-up horses.
“It was a good feeling and nice to have the first winner.”
He added “this is only a Plan B for horses which don't sell at the breeze-ups and it gives them another chance. I bought this horse and he won first-time up when Jimmy Coogan trained him for me.
“I am from Minas Gerais (population 22m) in Brazil, rode there and also rode a couple of winners in Ireland. I have six horses which didn't sell at the breeze-ups to run on the track and this horse is for sale so I've no plan in mind - we'll will see how he is.”
Speaking last August, Dias revealed to Thoroughbred Daily News he “got Winemaker at 150-1 (at Naas) but the bookies only let me have 29 euros each-way that morning. I waited a couple of hours and they let me put another 30 euros each-way and then, just before the off, I had one more good bet at odds of 100-1.
“What's even better was, my partner Hannah was at the track with a few friends. One of them, a Brazilian girl, knows nothing about racing but went up and had 20 euros to win at 100-1. She won two grand and was over the moon. It was a great day.”
