Honketonk Angel and Oisin McSweeney with Jim Gorman and groom Josh Ralph © Photo Healy Racing
Maiden Honketonk Angel shed that tag for Luke Comer in the first divide of the two-mile handicap at Dundalk.
This was the Slade Power mare's eight career start and her fourth try on Polytrack.
She was ridden inside the two pole to make headway by Oisin McSweeney and, to her credit, she rolled home well to strike the front racing to the final furlong.
She edged left across the track towards her sole rival, Circus Act at the business end ,but McSweeney kept her up to her work to win by half a length at 12/1 from the 14/1 runner-up.
There was a four-and-three-quarter-length gap back to Oranmore (10/3), a stablemate of the winner.
Assistant trainer Jim Gorman said: “She's been crying out for two miles on decent ground and we haven't got it.
“This is the first two-mile race in her grade up here, they are very rare and she wants every bit of it as she stays galloping.
“We'll see if there is another one of them or even a mile-and-six, a mile-and-a-half might be a bit sharp.
“She idled a bit and just needed a bit of company, that's just her.”
The Raceday Stewards interviewed M.P. Sheehy, rider of Circus Act, concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who stated that his mount was responding and he lost count. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Raceday Stewards found the rider in breach of Reg.10.3.(g) in that he used his whip with excessive frequency and having taken his record into account suspended him for six race days.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
