Long-standing maiden now a three-time winner Having failed to score on his first 30 starts, Chimeric has clearly developed a winning habit, registering his third success of the year in the second divide of the Rose Hotel Handicap. Off a mark of 47, the Johnny Levins-trained six-year-old made the breakthrough at Newcastle in February, gaining a second win three starts later at Gowran. Bidding to follow-up this evening, the Make Believe gelding was sent off an easy-to-back 12/1 chance (from 4s early) under Donagh O'Connor. Settled towards rear of mid-division and pushed along entering the straight, he soon took closer order and was ridden on the outer over a furlong from home. Owned by David and Mark Hopkins, he swept to the front inside the final 100 yards, going on to prevail by three-parts-of-a-length. The Austin Leahy-trained Han Solo (7/1) filled the runner-up spot, while Darkened (16/1) was three-parts-of-a-length away in third. Returned the 11/2 joint-favourites, Golden Freckle and Wrist Art finished sixth and twelfth respectively. "It took him a while to get his head in front but he has now found the winning habit," Levins, who was recording his 100th domestic winner on Flat, commented. "I'm delighted as while David and Mark (Hopkins) are away on holidays, David's wife Mary is here with friends and she had yet to see him win. I'm thrilled as she is getting a real kick out of this and they are locals so we try and have the horses tuned for here. "He likes Gowran and here and it suits him to come late and wide. The ground is dead on the inner here and the horses on the inside were getting bogged down so it suited to come late and wide." STEWARDS REPORTS * D.W. O'Connor, rider of Chimeric, trained by J.F. Levins, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung badly right from two furlongs out. * D.P. McDonogh, rider of Golden Freckle, trained by T.J. O'Mara, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount got squeezed in the final furlong. * R.P. Whelan, rider of Lisabetta, trained by Timothy Doyle, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount got no clear run. * N.M. Crosse, rider of Purring Along, trained by S.M.Duffy, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung right up the straight. * C.D. Hayes, rider of Wrist Art, trained by Timothy Doyle, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount got no clear run in the final furlong. * J.A. Heffernan, rider of Rose Of Malta, trained by P.F.O'Donnell, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount was running very free when he had to switch out right off heels on the approach to the first bend. The Raceday Stewards reviewed the incident and were satisfied that no further action was warranted. Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
