Firebrand, left, has Babich's measure © Photo Healy Racing
Seamie Heffernan controlled the pace on front-runner Firebrand in the extended 10-furlong maiden at Roscommon and the pair ground out victory. Babich looked the danger and moved closer in second 150 yards out, however, he soon edged left while Firebrand stayed gun barrel straight.
The pursuer came again in the closing stages, but Heffernan was able to drive Firebrand home by half a length at 100/30 for trainer John Nallen. The runner-up went off the 7/4 favourite.
Firebrand finished second in a maiden hurdle at Cork in March and in a Flat maiden at Sligo in May.
Assistant James 'Corky' Carroll said:- “He stayed at it well.
“We weren't too sure if Dermot Weld's horse (Newtown Duke) would make the running or not, so I said to Seamie if there wasn't any pace on to bounce out and go a good even gallop the whole way, just hold on to a little coming up the straight.
“To be fair Seamie had it down to a tee and he battled the whole way to the line.
“We were giving weight away, but he is a four-year-old and he stays two miles over hurdles so I was confident that he would get to the line.
“He definitely wants a cut in the ground, we wouldn't run him on proper good summer ground for Flat horses.
“We can mix it with him. We might give him another run on the Flat but he will go back over hurdles anytime we want.”
The Raceday Stewards interviewed G.F. Carroll, rider of Babich, concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who accepted he was in breach of the Whip Regulation and stated that one of the strikes was for corrective purposes. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that G.F. Carroll was in breach of R.10.3(g)(frequency) and having considered his clean record in this regard, they suspended him for two racedays.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
