Roman Palace and Declan McDonogh© Photo Healy Racing
Roman Palace (9/2) was Melbourne Cup hero Green Moon's first Irish winner as a stallion today, as Luke Comer's homebred, owned and trained filly landed Dundalk's Join Us On Our Social Channels Handicap (Div I).
Ridden by Declan McDonogh the five-year-old filly raced prominently throughout and comfortably held runner-up Hale Bopp by a length and a half.
Irish-bred and by Montjeu, Green Moon won the Melbourne Cup for Australian owner Lloyd Williams in 2012, before finishing his career three years later. Having recently returned to his native Ireland, today's success was his first as a stallion in either Ireland or the UK.
Jockey McDonogh said "I had a lovely draw and I had the run of the race. She travelled around good and had form on the track.
"I was surprised how well she picked up, she quickened really well and put the race to bed so it was going to take one to do a bit of running to run me down.
"It is nice to get a winner for Luke and Jim (Gorman, assistant trainer). They are doing a good job with them and they look great. They are running well, so it is good to be part of the team."
Quotes from Michael Graham
