Michelle Hamilton after riding her first winner on Geological© Photo Healy Racing
Damian English brought up a 62/1 double at Dundalk as Geological took advantage of his bottom-weight impost to provide 10Ib claimer Michelle Hamilton with her first winner in the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Awards 2016 Handicap.
It was Miss Hamilton's seventh ride and she is based with Garvan Donnelly. She hails from Ardcath in County Meath.
"I got a great tune out of him. He loved being in front. He bounced really smartly but there was a lot of pace on so I sat second," explained the successful apprentice.
"I seen a gap, let him go through and he just took off. I heard them coming behind and thought he'd be swallowed up but he said 'you're not catching me.'
"I've been with Garvan Donnelly for the past two-and-a-half years. That's my first outside ride.
"Garvan has been very good to me and I have to thank him and also my coach Warren O'Connor."
After Geological had lasted it out to inflict a length defeat on Shepherd's Purse English revealed that it was his first double. Dance Alone prevailed earlier on for the yard under Donagh O'Connor.
"He's not winning out of turn and it killed me that it's taken this long to win with him," said the Naul County Dublin-based handler.
"He ran some big races here last winter and then got an injury and missed the summer.
"He's slowly been coming back to where he was last winter. He deserved that.
"Rory (Cleary) rode him here on Tuesday morning and he flew for him.
"At 10'o clock yesterday morning I thought Rory was riding him but then I was told he had to ride Mr Bolger's (McGuigan, sixth).
"We were scratching our heads for a jockey to do the weight. I couldn't get anyone and a lot of lads were on holidays.
"At a quarter to 12 we got on to Garvan Donnelly and he said she'll do the weight. It worked out well. She gave it a great ride.
"She made her move at the right time and was happy to take a lead.
"He has come right down to a low mark. Last year he was competitive off the high 80s.
"There is that seven-furlong race next week but whether we'd let him and Dance Alone take each other on - I have a bit of deciding to do during the week but we'll see.
"They are in good form anyway."
(GC & EM)
