Winner Edification (left) chases eventual runner-up Tartlette © Photo Healy Racing
Connections of Edification enjoyed some good fortune with a Premier Handicap win in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Ragusa Handicap at the Curragh today, as the slow-starter scored under a well judged ride from Gavin Ryan.
The son of Dream Ahead misses the break more often than not and while not the slowest of today's 17 runners, still found himself well back for much of the trip. However Ryan worked his way gradually through the field and the seven year old finished powerfully to edge ahead of Tartlette near the line, for a neck success.
Winning Mark Fahey is a farrier by trade, and commented “itt's a great pot to land and my first premier handicap. Well Set Up won a couple of Grade 3 hurdles for me last season but he's my biggest winner on the Flat so far.
“It was a brilliant ride and that's the way he has to be produced. Gavin timed it to absolute perfection.
“He's been unlucky a few times last year, through no-one's fault. Today, on a big galloping track, he was able to produce him last minute and didn't have to look for too many gaps.
“Gavin has ridden three times for me and we've had two winners. He has his homework done before the race.
“This horse jumps out slow and loves finding trouble. We tried before to force him, and try to keep him out of trouble but it didn't work.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
