Woodland Opera and Kate Harrington © Photo Healy Racing
Woodland Opera looked like he might be a chip off the old block as the son of top racemare Opera Hat made a winning debut in the concluding bumper at Leopardstown this afternoon.
Opera Hat proved a terrific mare for the late John Fowler, winning the Grade 1 Melling Chase at Aintree and proving somewhat of a course specialist at Naas where she landed the Grade 2 Newlands Chase three times.
She has failed to shine as a broodmare to date but Woodland Opera, by Robin Des Champs, certainly looks to have inherited some of his mother's ability.
Kate Harrington gave the 14/1 shot a positive ride as he kicked for home entering the straight.
He galloped on strongly in the closing stages to record a two-and-a-quarter length success over 5/6 favourite Fungi Mountain.
The winner is trained by Jessica Harrington, Fowler's sister, and said she afterwards:
"That's really great as John trained the mare, and in theory that's her last foal. I fancied him as he was working better than the horse (Jett) who was second last week.
"He's a chaser. He could go for a winners bumper but we may leave him off. He jumps brilliant. He's also owned by Valerie Cooper(owner/breeder)'s daughter Diana and Carolyn Waters, who was also involved with Opera Hat."
Reflecting back on Jezki she said: "He's not had a hard race and he's fine. He could have left the whole thing here and had a battle."
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
