Grand Opera & Samantha Bell hold off Rawnaq & Declan McDonogh at Galway© Photo Healy Racing
He won in the famous Wylie silks in his time cross-channel and had seven successes to his name when under the care of Gordon Elliott. At Galway today Grand Opera popped up at odds of 16/1 to make it career victory number ten in the Ladbrokes "Bet In Play" Handicap.
Now trained in County Down by Sarah Dawson, Grand Opera got the better of fellow outsider Rawnaq in the final furlong, prevailing by a neck.
Dawson had run her big winner from here last year, Clare Glen at Goodwood during the week and she said after the Grand Opera victory: "He got a nice run though and he kept going well. He got a lovely lead off his stablemate (Slew Charm) and he set a good gallop.
"We knew he had the ability but getting it out of him was the thing.
"We stuck the two of them in just to keep them sweet and Samantha (Bell) gave him a brilliant ride and I told her to ride him like a piece of work.
"When he came of the bridle she took a pull. She's great value for her 7Ib claim."
She concluded with the quip: "That's 100 per cent around Galway after Clare Glen last year."
Meanwhile for fellow Northern lady Samantha Bell this was a ninth win in the saddle.
The Stewards interviewed J A Heffernan, rider of Ballachroy, concerning his use of the whip in this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards found J A Heffernan in breach of Regulation 10 3 (g) by using the whip with his arm above shoulder height and suspended him for one race day. (DM & EM)
