Seattle Sound and Declan McDonogh win the Limerick Races Handicap © Photo Healy Racing
Declan McDonagh was seen at his very best when making all aboard 20/1 outsider Seattle Sound in the concluding Private Suites At Limerick Races Handicap at the Munster venue.
In front from the off, McDonagh set perfect fractions on the Luke Comer trained five-year-old, before kicking on again once briefly threatened in the straight. Scott Lang and En Or looked real dangers over two out but as the former faded, the latter got to the girths of the eventual winner. However, try as he might, Ben Coen couldn't get any closer on the Tony Martin trained gelding, going down by half-a-length.
The winner had been off the track for 611 days before finishing mid division at Tipperary last time, so it was a fine training performance.
Assistant Trainer Jim Gorman said: "He had a little problem and that's why he was off for a while but he came back and ran a hell of a race at Tipperary when the three-year-olds finished in front of him but he gave them lots of weight. He was the first of the older horses to finish in that race.
"Tipperary brought him on a lot and he is a big, big galloping horse.
"I'd say the boss will want to go to Galway because he is a Galwayman and Declan (McDonogh) has recommended he goes there too.
"He could eventually jump hurdles because he gallops, gallops, gallops."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
