Spirit Genie beating Betterdaysrcoming © Photo Healy Racing
Conor Hoban proved an able deputy for Shane Foley, who was away on duty in France, as Spirit Genie scored at odds of 9/1 in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Roscommon.
The Jessica Harrington-trained son of Invincible Spirit got a lovely run up the inner to lead at the furlong pole and kept on well to beat Betterdaysrcoming by three-quarters-of-a-length. Tiymara was a further length-and-a-half away in third.
Hoban said, “He’d a very good first run in Fairyhouse and the last day in the Curragh the six might have been a bit sharp for him.
“He’d a tongue tie on today which helped him. He liked the ground and liked going seven. He relaxed well into the race and got a lovely split up the rail.
“The race panned out perfect. Shane (Foley) is away in France and I’m grateful to get the ride.
“Mick Donohue (racing manager to owner Zhang Yuesheng) has been very good to me at home in my own yard and when the opportunities arise on the track. It’s nice to repay him with a winner.”
Foley and Mrs Harrington were out of luck earlier with Nectaris finishing unplaced in a Group 3 at Deauville.
