"Old bounce back" at Dundalk and Mahaaseel excels Mahaaseel supplied Kevin Prendergast with his first winner of the season in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for the two-year-olds at Dundalk. August 26th 2007 saw the opening of the all-weather track at Dundalk, and today beginning on a newly re-laid surface Mahaaseel stepped up on a debut second placing from 24 days back at Fairyhouse. With a tongue-strap tried the Gary Halpin-ridden victor overcame the fact that she was carried right all the way across the track by eventual second, Hyde Park Barracks. A neck split them, with two lengths back to the third, Blue Cabochon. “She's a nice filly. She had a good run the first day and we like her a lot and she duly obliged,” said Halpin. “She just got caught late on over six the last day. We dropped her back to five, on a good surface, and put a tongue-tie on her which benefited her a lot. “If think the drop in trip benefited her and she stepped forward. She will get six furlongs. “She's typical of one of Kevin's. She works hard, they try hard for you and will go down battling for you. “It wasn't ideal as I got brought across the track but I was happy with my filly. “The track is in tremendous order. It seems to have that old bounce back that it had a few years ago.” M.C. Hussey, rider of Hyde Park Barracks (USA) trained by A.P.O'Brien, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount hung badly to the right in the closing stages of this race. The Stewards interviewed M.C. Hussey, rider of Hyde Park Barracks (USA), concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that some use of the whip was for corrective purposes and the remaining use of the whip did not breach R10. The Stewards did not take any further action on this occasion. (GC & EM)
