Magic Chegaga, second right, makes her winning move© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Brian Duffy scooped a big pot for the Magic Lads Syndicate when Magic Chegaga forged home in the Colm Quinn BMW Mile Handicap. Spanish Tenor went off at breakneck speed with only Verhoyen attempting to keep tabs on him. The leader paid the price for his exertions as he weakened approaching the home straight.
Verhoyen led in to the straight, but he soon wilted as Magic Chegaga was produced by Colin Keane to lead racing to the final furlong.
She was followed through by Casanova who was ridden by Adam Caffrey to try and reel her in with 150 yards to travel. However, Magic Chegaga kept up the gallop to see him off by half a length.
The winner was returned at 6/1 from the 12/1 runner-up. Cowboy Justice the sole three-year-old in the field, ran a creditable race in third (9/2f), beaten two lengths by the winner. Current Option completed the placings in fourth at 28/1.
Ado McGuinness was going for four in a row in this race and fielded eight horses. He took second, fourth, fifth (Pierre Lapin) and sixth (Star Harbour).
"We were travelling our two horses (Mean Fomhair who runs in race six) in two different boxes and one of them overheated so we ended up getting into a churchyard in Rochfortbridge and we had no choice but to throw them in together," Duffy said.
“I thought 'this is going to go terribly wrong!' I really could have done without it coming here for this race. Thank God it worked out and I still can't believe it has actually happened.
“I was just hoping she'd hold on and there wasn't a late finisher coming to nab her but she just kept on finding and she's a brilliant filly.
“She has a very high cruising speed but doesn't find a whole lot off it, I think she just has one gear when she lets down but she's game as anything.
“We had the champion on board and he's champion for a reason. He gave her a super ride, from that draw to get her in and get her settled in mid-division was super stuff.
“You couldn't make it up, it's unbelievable. When we bought her we were hoping she'd just win a race.
“She's a beautifully bred filly but all the Moyglare horses are. When you buy out of there you know you are buying something good.
“The lads said they had around €15,000 to buy something (bought for €12,500) and it was during 2021 so it was actually online.
“I was bidding on my computer in between working. I was working from home for a logistics company doing customs clearance.
“We just have four in training, a restricted licence, and half my yard are running here tonight. It's unbelievable to have one to run in this never mind win it.
“It's one of the highlights of the year for Flat trainers at Galway, the big Colm Quinn Handicap. It's unbelievable to get it amongst all the real trainers, I'm only a minnow.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
