Gerrit s Gem and Ronan Whelan © Photo Healy Racing
Stepping up to a mile for the first time in his career, the Kieran Cotter trained Gerrit's Gem needed every yard of that trip when landing the Follow Us On Social Media Handicap at Cork.
Having shown plenty of pace when winning his maiden over 6f at this track in May, the four-year-old had been well beaten in two subsequent starts.
Racing over a mile here, the Ronan Whelan partnered 11/1 chance broke smartly to lead in the initial stages of the race.
Headed by Walhaan before halfway, the Belardo gelding looked booked for minor honours at best early in the straight as the Ciaran Murphy trained grey made the best of his way home under Darragh O'Sullivan.
However, finding extra reserves of stamina inside the final furlong, Gerrit's Gem came with a renewed effort under Whelan to get up close home to win by a neck.
Gerrit O'Reilly, who owns and led up the winner said: "We stepped him up to a mile as his mother had finished third on her debut over today's course-and-distance, so we said we'd give him a crack at it. He had won over six (furlongs) here earlier in the year and we took the blinkers off today to help him to settle.
"It was a great ride from Ronnie (Whelan) and we have his proper trip now.
"I help out Kieran (Cotter) and we'll go back now and make a plan; if there's another race we might chance him but if not, he has won two this year so we are happy enough. Today was a great day."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
