Musalsal and Ronan Whelan (white cap) win the Kilkenny, More To Explore Handicap© Photo Healy Racing
Musalsal (3/1 fav) came from well back to win the concluding Kilkenny, More To Explore Handicap.
The Shamardal gelding, bred by Shadwell, was unplaced in five starts for Dermot Weld last year but is getting his act together now as a handicapper for Richard O’Brien.
He’d won over a mile at Gowran earlier in the month under a similar hold-up ride from Ronan Whelan and, having been short of room when fourth at Limerick in the meantime, he resumed winning ways here over the extended nine furlongs.
The winner turned for home with plenty to do, but the jockey’s body language suggested he was quite happy, and Musalsal picked off rivals in the final furlong to win by half a length from Rockview Roman Long-time leader Hidden Spark was a close third.
Whelan said afterwards: “I was happy when the shower of rain came earlier. He just seems to like that little bit of kindness in the ground and it just takes the sting out of the race as well as the ground.
“He enjoys coming late and only seems to do enough when he gets there. I always felt the trip was going to suit and it's nice to get him back to winning ways.
“There is no reason why he can't keep progressing. Richard has done a great job with him, he's kept him sweet and he knows what to do with him now. Hopefully he can win again.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
