Joey Sasa impressive on Flat race debut

There was a lovely performance from odds-on favourite Joey Sasa to round off Tuesday proceedings on the polytrack, as he smoothly landed the spoils in the mile and a half Dundalk Stadium Maiden.

Noel Meade 's Winged Love gelding is nine now, but he's got plenty of pace as he displayed here to supplement his two bumper and two hurdle wins.

In the silks of Eamonn Duignan Colin Keane was sitting pretty on Joey Sasa two furlongs out and he asserted from over a furlong out to defeat Bringthehousedown by four lengths.

"I suppose it wasn't much of a race really but he did it smoothly," said Meade.

"He loves that good ground and he (Colin) said he floated around there. He might run on the Flat somewhere again.

"I suppose he won't go to Fairyhouse with the ground the way it is and he'll probably wait for Punchestown.

"Although the one in Fairyhouse is worth 100,000 Euros which is tempting, we'll see.

"He'll probably head for Galway again but there is Fairyhouse and Punchestown first. He doesn't want soft ground, that's the problem."

The Stewards interviewed J.A. Heffernan, rider of Champagne Pat trained by Jonathan Sweeney, concerning his riding in the latter stages of this race where he eased when racing in fifth place before finishing seventh.

Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who stated that his mount hung to the right from the start and had failed to make the running as instructed.

He added that he asked for an effort on the approach to the straight but was unable to make any progress and in the latter stages his mount began to hang badly to the right.

At this point he stopped riding to straighten his mount before finishing seventh in a tight finish for the minor placings.

In his opinion this animal would be better suited to racing right handed.

Having viewed the recording and considered the evidence, the Stewards noted the explanation.

J.A. Heffernan, rider of Champagne Pat, trained by Jonathan Sweeney, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount hung right at all stages of this race.

The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Champagne Pat, trained by Jonathan Sweeney, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal. Samples were taken for analysis.

(GC & EM)