Nine-year-old chaser wins Dundalk maiden Nine-year-old San Salvador (8/15f) gained a first Flat success today, as the smart chaser took advantage of a good opportunity in landing Dundalk’s Irishinjuredjockeys.com Maiden, for trainer Joseph O’Brien and jockey Declan McDonogh. Owned by the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate, San Salvador gained a Grade 3 chase win last September and while he was having just his second career Flat start today, readily accounted for his opponents, beating 67-rated Ice Opera by 4.5 lengths. McDonogh said "that’s a nice confidence booster for him and he loved it. He hopped off the surface and is a fine big horse. I had never sat on him before and Joseph said to me 'he's not slow'. He actually did travel around with a bit of gusto. "She (runner-up Ice Opera) took a few lengths out of me in between the two bends and, once I gave him a click, he was back on it. He was a champion up the straight! Joseph’s horses are in super form and I didn't have to do much. "He loved the surface and it is riding quite quick, but he hopped off it. I think there's options in the summer for him on the Flat." Quotes from Michael Graham
