Cork 21 May 2024Gerrit s Gem and Scott McCullagh win for trainer Kieran Cotter Healy Racing© Photo Healy Racing
For the second race in succession, punters were left scratching their heads as 33/1 outsider Gerrit's Gem made most of the running to cause an upset in the Sign Up To Our Newsletter Maiden at Cork.
Unplaced on both starts prior to this afternoon, at Dundalk and the Curragh respectively, the gelding looked a totally different proposition here in first time blinkers.
Fast away under jockey Scott McCullagh, the four-year-old soon led, with his rider setting steady fractions out in front.
As most of the opposition began to push away over a furlong out, McCullagh asked his mount for more and the response was instant.
Quickening up from the front, the half-brother to black type horse Power Under Me kept on strongly to win by three-quarters-of-a-length.
Kieran Cotter said: "He is buzzy, is a work in progress and it took a while to get his head right. We always thought he was a decent horse, he is a half-brother to Power Under Me (Group 3 winner) but he boiled over the last day in the Curragh.
"We had to get his head right but at the Curragh there were a few other issues that back-fired."
He added: "The plan today was to get a lead but he broke quickly and settled away in front. He got a nice easy run at it and will learn as he goes along.
"The blinkers, believe it or not, were applied so he wouldn't see too much and to relax him! It is total opposites as, with him, the less he sees the better. He is very genuine though and is almost too genuine.
"On his home work we said he has to go very close as he works like a proper good horse. We'll take it step by step with him."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
