Apercu (left) and Fleetfoot fight out the finish© Photo Healy Racing
Successful earlier on Natalia Lupini's Thebelmontgangster Billy Lee teamed up with another northern trainer to complete his double when Apercu (15/8 fav) clung on for victory in the TRM - Excellence In Equine Nutrition Handicap.
Andy Oliver 's daughter of Elzaam, owned by Team Valor International LLC, was dropping in class after finishing mid-division in the valuable Northfields Handicap over course and distance last month.
Soon second in the six-runner contest, Lee brought the four-year-old to the front over two furlongs out but Chris Hayes covered the move on Fleetfoot who threw down a strong challenge in the closing stages.
The two horses passed the post locked together but the photo-finish showed that Apercu had prevailed by a nose.
Lee reported: “When Chris came to me she found again. I thought I was beat, to be honest, on the line.
“When we pulled up Chris said 'did I get you?' and I said that he did, so he wasn't happy when the result was called!
“It's great, she's a very straightforward mare and she's done well to win, that's her second this year.
“It's slow ground but I always found that she'll go on any ground, it's just coincidence that's she's won twice on slow ground. I think she'll be grand on good ground again.”
When asked about the application of first-time blinkers, he added:-“She can race a little lazily and find a flat spot. I think in Naas she did that and still managed to win, she was just probably on the right side of the handicapper that day.
“Today she needed them. Everything fell into place nicely and she got the job done.
“Andy will be delighted. He's working away hard at the sales and I think he's bought plenty of new stock for next year.”
The winner is entered tomorrow night at Dundalk:- “He originally declared her just in case this turned up very heavy. You wouldn't know with Andy!”
Quotes from Gary Carson
