Doctor Geoff and Gary Carroll (left)© Photo Healy Racing
Ger Lyons has Royal Ascot aspirations for his Doctor Geoff as his colt won the Listed Power Irish EBF Tetrarch Stakes at Naas today, scoring under the trainer’s second jockey Gary Carroll.
The son of Fast Company had previously impressively won his maiden at the same venue in September and while Lyons’ stable jockey Colin Keane partnered Noivado Doctor Geoff was backed from 16/1 this morning in to 8/1 at the off and in the end quickened smartly in the closing stages for a half length win over Drumfad Bay
Lyons was delighted with the winner and stated ”he's a horse we've always liked and in winning his maiden, David (Spratt, owner) said he had one of the best speed figures of maiden winners last season.
“I just thought seven (furlongs) on that ground might be a tad sharp for him but Gary (Carroll) said he was only going through the motions waiting for the gap. When he got the gap he sprinted clear.
“He'd have to come into the reckoning for something like the Jersey (Stakes at Royal Ascot) - to win a Jersey you want to be able to get a mile and have the speed for seven and he falls into that bracket.
“He's a nice horse - there's not much of him on the weighing scales but he's a talented individual.
“Our other horse (Noivado) just ran no race and we're a bit bemused with him as I would have always had Noivado over this lad over that trip. We'll have to go back to the drawing board with him but I'm delighted for David and delighted for the yard to win the race.”
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Gary Carson