Meryems Ways (purple cap)© Photo Healy Racing
Division one of the Racing Again Gowran Park 29th May Handicap at Gowran today produced a result which was remarkably similar to one held at the Co Kilkenny track on Sunday as Meryems Ways today won for trainer Pat Martin and jockey Killian Leonard.
Sunday's mile race resulted in winner Insane Bolt beating Meryems Ways, with Gatsby Cap third and that same 1-2-3 lined up in today's 13 runner race. Insane Bolt was today anchored by a mandatory 6lbs penalty whereas beaten horses Meryems Ways and Gatsby Cap both competed from their same Sunday ratings.
In a zen moment for the Flat Handicapper, that 6lbs weight hike helped shuffle Insane Bolt to third place today while Meryems Ways upheld form when scoring a neck win from Sunday's third-placed and today's runner-up Gatsby Cap.
Following the race Martin said “the same first three horses came home again, that doesn't happen too often, especially three days later.
“We were glad to see the rain and I think if it had dried out we wouldn't have turned up.
“I spoke to Paddy Graffin (Clerk of the Course) yesterday and he assured me it would be lovely and safe. I think we got more rain than was anticipated which was ideal for her. She's a typical Tough As Nails, they like a good dig in it.
“She didn't travel as well as that on Sunday, she was on and off it on Sunday. She was always travelling well tonight and I was afraid that we were travelling too well and mightn't have much left.
“She had to battle well at the end and the first two came away a bit. I'd say being wide was a help.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
