Goodnight Kiss and Nathan Crosse race clear of Scrum Half (3) © Photo Healy Racing
After finding just one too good on her previous two starts at Gowran Park, Goodnight Kiss (5/2) got off the mark in the Kilsaran Maiden.
The daughter of Fastnet Rock chased the leaders before being asked for her effort inside the final quarter mile. She was inclined to go left under pressure but came through to lead inside the final furlong and was two and a quarter lengths ahead of the long-time leader Scrum Half at the line.
The 8/15 favourite Zaynudin looked ill at ease on the track and was struggling from early in the straight before keeping on late for third spot.
It’s been an extraordinary month of sustained success for winning trainer Jessica Harrington.
This was winner number 81 of the campaign and a look back to her seasonal tallies of 21 in both 2015 and 2016 is indicative of the burgeoning strength of her Flat operation in recent years.
It’s been a productive year for winning rider Nathan Crosse as well and he said of his twentieth winner of the season: “I was very happy with her. That was Plan B really as Plan A was to make the running but she broke a tad slowly.
"We went a good gallop that suited her and when she came under pressure she ducked a bit left. She pricked her ears when she got there but she did it well.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
