Okita Soushi (right) beating stablemate San Andreas© Photo Healy Racing
Okita Soushi sent odds-on punters home happy when following up a win here earlier this month in the Dundalk Winter Series Leading Trainer And Jockey Championship Race.
The 8/15 shot was dropped back from scoring over two miles and coped well with this extended ten furlongs.
Mikey Sheehy ’s mount was rousted along to lead under two furlongs out and, despite drifting badly right, kept on well enough to beat stablemate San Andreas by half a length.
Winning trainer Joseph O’Brien’s assistant Brendan Powell said, He is a stayer, but he's not actually slow. Mikey said he was just a bit slow away, so he had to slot him. The idea was to make it, but we didn't. He picked up well.
"San Andreas has run his heart out again, he did (keep him honest). He was never going to get by him but it was nice to see him get the trip.
"It does (give us options for the winner). I still think he will be a better horse on the grass too.
"Both have done everything right. San Andreas keeps bumping into one but he's a good, honest horse for the syndicate. He runs his race every single time no matter what trip you run him over."
O'Brien has already trained ten winners at Dundalk this year and Powell added: "They are going well at the moment and we are revving all the others ones up for the grass.
"Joseph likes to bring them here and the two fillies earlier will both win a maiden here. If Joseph has them, he will keep racing them."
Quotes by Michael Graham
