Golden Trick and Ben Coen far side beats Jungle Mate near side for trainer Hugo Palmer© Photo Healy Racing
The Hugo Palmer trained Golden Trick landed the richest race run at the track all year when just holding the late burst of Jungle Mate in the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes(Median Auction Race) at Naas.
Like the winner, the runner-up, trained by Kevin Ryan, was also representing owners Bronte Collection.
Typical of a big field sales race, the runners split into three distinct groups early on. Golden Trick always raced prominently under Ben Coen before leading on the far rail over two furlongs out. Kortez Bay appeared to be full of running for trainer Sheila Lavery in the centre of the track but as the runners met the rising ground, it became evident that Golden Trick held the overall advantage from a host of closers on the stands side.
The latter group was headed by Jungle Mate who kept on strongly to claim second well inside the final furlong. Bright Stripes trained by Andy Oliver, was the first Irish horse home, with Sheila Lavery saddling the next two, Glamora and Kortez Bay respectively.
Ben Coen said: “I was hoping that they'd stay far side and not complicate things and go across.
“I had a lovely run the whole way. He came under me at halfway, I gave him a dig and kept him rolling. I probably got there too soon but he's a hardy horse and he gets through that ground really well.
“In the last 75 yards he was having a look around and I'd say if something had come close to me he would have went again.
“I had watched his couple of races. Hugo said he was straightforward and that he had come on from the last day and he'd handle the ground so to keep it simple. I'm delighted.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
