Karuma Grey and Diarmuid Moloney win for owner Paul Holden and trainer Ellmarie Holden © Photo Healy Racing
On an afternoon when owner Paul Holden sponsors the feature race, Karuma Grey was an appropriate winner of Division ll of the Goresbridge Maiden Hurdle at Gowran Park.
Trained locally by Holden's daughter Ellmarie, the five-year-old stayed on strongly from two out, before eventually collaring long time leader Libby in the shadows of the post.
Having fallen in his first two point-to-point starts, the grey showed little initially once switching to rules but there was some promise in his recent fifth place finish at Thurles. Stamina is clearly his strong point and the way he galloped to the line here, one would expect to see him excel over further.
Favourite Libby had looked to have the race in safe keeping when stretching clear of her rivals leaving the back straight but her rider was sending out the distress signals before two out. To her credit, the mare didn't go down without a fight and was only headed inside the final 150 yards.
Showyourappreciation was the gamble of the race but having struggled from half way, he eventually ran on to take third place close home.
Winning jockey Diarmuid Moloney said:- “I thought I had a better chance on Jet Setting Johnny and I was surprised when I passed the line in front.
“I just kept it simple, he's quirky so I didn't bully him and just let him think that he had the run of the race.
“Having something to aim at really helped me as well and he just picked up and JJ came back to me. I didn't think I was going to catch him for a while but then the horse just kept picking up underneath me and I was delighted at the line.
“I kept a bit wider for nicer ground as he was getting a bit stuck down the inside. When I could see JJ I was fairly happy I was going to reel him in because I hadn't fully got after my horse yet. When I got after him he found.
“He doesn't need the hood to settle him, because he actually races lovely in your hands, but he's probably afraid of horses around him and doesn't want to get bullied. You have to keep it very simple with him, loads to room and daylight.
“He handled the track and ground lovely, he's a grand horse for the future.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
