Willie Byrne pictured after recording his first success in the saddle© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Byrne, who is seventeen and from Wexford, recorded his first success in the saddle, as he guided Mainicin to victory in the Emerald Facility Services Event Cleaning Apprentice Handicap.
Successful at Dundalk in January and March, the Jim Bolger trained five-year-old was sent off at 6/1 today after finishing fifth at Limerick on her most recent start.
Soon in front, she was joined by Rummaging after a couple of furlongs. They were both ridden from the two furlong pole, with Mainicin soon edging to the front again, staying on well inside the final furlong to score by half a length. Room To Roam (3/1) finished second under Evan Daly for Ger Lyons, while Pushaq (16s to 10s) was another two and three parts of a length back in third for Robbie Downey and Anthony McCann. Dancing Doll was sent off the 2/1 favourite, but she could only manage a disappointing fourth for Oisin Orr and Tony Martin.
Ger Flynn, Bolger's travelling head lad, said afterwards: "That's all apprentices that have signed on with the yard this year that have ridden a winner now. We have one more lad, who signed on last year, who has yet to ride a winner.
"Willie has improved a lot in his riding and gave her a good ride. He kept a cool head and got a good tune out of her.
"Hopefully it's onwards and upwards for Willie and for the filly. She handled that ground."
STEWARDS REPORT
C.J. McGovern, rider of Rummaging trained by M.Halford, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his saddle slipped in the early stages of this race and that he rode the latter stages without his irons.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
