De Mazzaro (left) and Niall McCullagh took the Meath Handicap (Division 1) © Photo Healy Racing
Stamullen Co. Meath trainer Tom McCourt made it three winners and four seconds from his first eleven runners since Irish racing resumed last week as De Mazzaro justified 5/2 favouritism under Niall McCullagh in division one of the Meath Handicap.
The dual-purpose So You Think gelding hit the front inside the final quarter mile and was kept up to his work to beat the staying-on Ilikehim (17/2) by half a length, with Take A Turn (7/1) another three quarters of a length back in third.
A winner over hurdles at Galway last October, this was a breakthrough success on the level for De Mazzaro, but of course he was unfortunate over course and distance here last June when coasting home to be a close sixth after jockey Danny Sheehy had popped his shoulder out during the race and was unable to ride a finish on him.
"He was in good form and he had plenty of work done,” said winning trainer Tom McCourt.
“We forgot to put the tongue-tie on him but it obviously didn't make much difference.
“It's great to get him off the mark on the Flat. He'll go back over jumps now.
“If we got a mile-and-six somewhere on the Flat we'd look at that but he'll stay mainly over jumps. I'd say a mile-and-a-half is plenty sharp enough for him and you're waiting for something to come and do him for a bit of toe.
“He was very unlucky here last year when Danny Sheehy dislocated his shoulder half a furlong down as he was tanking by them passing the line. Danny couldn't do anything on him that day and it was unfortunate.
“Over hurdles he kept improving throughout last year and he was very good in Galway when he won. The aim will be to go back to Galway.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
