Mumayaz and Chris Hayes win by a short head © Photo Healy Racing
The 7/2 favourite Mumayaz was produced with a well-timed challenge by Chris Hayes to land the Grant Thornton Nursery Handicap by a narrow margin.
Dropped in mid-division on the rail, the Tamayuz gelding got clear sailing over a furlong out and made his bid inside the final furlong. He found plenty under pressure to thwart Walking On Clouds by a short head, with the front-running Prince Rajj another half a length back in third.
Fourth over a mile on his previous start at Killarney, Mumayaz was a second winner in two days for Kevin Prendergast after Shahaada at Clonmel yesterday.
Chris Hayes said: "He's a horse I liked when he was running in maidens and he disappointed us, so we said we would rule out one thing and we gelded him. It seems to have transformed him.
"I thought he ran well in both (previous) nurseries. This looks like his optimum trip, they went good and hard which suited. I actually thought I won further than I did, it felt like a furlong down I was always going to get there.
"Thankfully he has done it nicely. He's in the right grade and hopefully he's (handicapper) not too hard on him and he can win again."
Quotes from Michael Graham
