Prydwen and Wayne Hassett© Photo Healy Racing
Ascot Gold Cup also-ran Prydwen rewarded English trainer George Scott's adventuring spirit today as his Killarney 'mission' paid dividends with victory in the course's biggest race, the Kellihers Toyota-sponsored Kingdom Gold Cup.
Newmarket-based Scott enjoyed Royal Ascot success with high-class Isle Of Jura in June's Hardwicke Stakes and while Prydwen was out of his depth behind Kyprios in the Gold Cup, today reverted to Kerry's lesser but Premier Handicap-classified Cup.
Ridden by apprentice jockey Wayne Hassett, Prydwen raced in rear-division before the six-year-old gradually progressed to lead over a furlong out, scoring by 2.75 lengths from Vero Verto.
Scott, on his first Killarney visit, commented “it was my first runner in Ireland but one of his part-owners Keith Breen is an Irishman and has a house in Cork, so has been pestering me to have a runner.
“The world is a small place now and it is very important to travel horses and find the most appropriate races. To come to a beautiful track like this is a privilege although it was a mission to get here!
“The lads came over with the horse a couple of days ago and did a great job, as he is a nervous horse so settling into life here has helped him. He has trained on the track both days and has enjoyed it.
“It took 18 hours for the horse to get here and for a nervous horse, he was great. We want to travel him during the winter so it was a good test. I got in at lunchtime so I've done nothing but my lads have had two nights here already. I'm going back and going straight to York (races) tomorrow.”
He added “the horse had been running in very strong races but it was looking like he was an all-weather specialist, although got a beautiful, unbelievable, perfect ride today. I thought the easy ground was a negative but it worked really well for him.”
“The owners are great supporters of mine so to give something back is important and he is a special horse who has won a lot of prizemoney.”
Regarding his sidelined stable star, he added “unfortunately Isle Of Jura is out with an injury until the middle of next year but fortunately we have nice horses coming through, although he is hard to replace.”
