McNiff in clover with double at local track What better place to bring up a double than at your local track and Mark McNiff did just that this afternoon as Staging Post completed the 59/1 two-timer in the concluding Sligo Races INH Flat Race. Staging Post had been a ‘buzz’ horse through the day before his debut at Kilbeggan eleven days ago. He didn’t come up to the mark then though, finishing eighth. By Cape Cross out of a Manduro mare this youngster has it on breeding, and he showed his true colours this time, despite being a pretty easy to back 16/1 shot. Again with John Barry in the plate, Staging Post added to the earlier gains for the stable with the Kevin Brouder-ridden Mr Moondance. Held up in rear, the Whatever You Think Syndicate-owned Staging Post progressed into fifth two furlongs out. Ridden in fourth entering the straight, the victor was closer in third a furlong out. Soon challenging, the McNiff runner led in the last fifty yards to account for favourite Erica’s Joy by a length and a quarter. "We thought he'd nearly win the last day and he ran desperate but John (Barry) thought he just didn't handle the track,” said the successful Strandhill-based handler. “He's a horse that had never been away or run in a schooling race with the lockdown, so maybe it was a bit of a culture shock. "We fancied him a bit today but not as much as we did the last day. We went home that day with confidence dented a bit! "He works like a horse that could run on the Flat. He's 16.3, a well-bred, big, good-looking horse. He could jump fences down the line. He has loads of options." (MN & EM)
