Herring Island, left, sees off Mister Wilson© Photo Healy Racing
Joseph O'Brien's Herring Island showed his mettle when winning the Dermot Hughes Car Sales Handicap for three-year-olds only at Roscommon.
This was the Australia colt's handicap debut and he was coming back from a lay-off since October when he won his maiden at Navan. In addition, he carried 10st 1lb and had to give weight away to the field.
He raced prominently in this extended 10 furlong race but was pushed along in second by Declan McDonogh with fully half a mile to travel. Hymn Book Too led them in but was passed by Herring Island over a quarter of a mile from home. The new leader was there to be shot at and came under the whip with a furlong and a half to go. Mister Wilson soon came with his challenge and briefly headed Herring Island inside the final furlong, however, Herring Island was nothing if not game as he got back into the lead in the final 150 yards.
The 12/1 shot galloped home to score by a length and a quarter from the 4/1 joint favourite Mister Wilson. Dark Vega was another half a length back in third at 11/2 from 8s.
Assistant trainer Brendan Powell said: "It was a good performance. That was only his third run and he was carrying a lot of weight.
“Declan said the track was completely against him, on the bends he was losing a little bit. He said he was always just doing enough and every time he asked him he picked up.
“He kept picking up and he galloped away from them in the end. It was a competitive race.
“He hadn't run for a long time and I could see improvement in every way from him, he's still a baby.
“He will get further and there will be a nice pot in him before the end of the summer. He loves that ground.”
Herring Island is a small artificial island in Melbourne's Yarra River.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
