Powerful Aggie (green cap) wins eased down© Photo Healy Racing
One of Ireland's Racing League representatives Powerful Aggie returned from international duty today, easily landing Killarney's Killarney Avenue Hotel Apprentice Handicap, for trainer Joseph O'Brien and jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle.
Powerful Aggie formed part of Team Ireland for the inaugural Racing League competition, run between July and September, and was unplaced in two runs for the international side, which slumped to a last place finish, in the group of 12.
Today, the daughter of Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist coasted to an effortless win over Sea Sessions readily defying her big weight of 10st4lbs.
Following the race, Grand National winning jockey Brendan Powell, representing O'Brien, recalled “when I rode for Pipey (trainer Martin Pipe), his horses often carried 12st7lbs. I'd worry saying 'they have a lot of weight' but his reply would be 'have you told her what she's carrying? She doesn't read the papers, she hasn't got a clue!'”
Regarding Powerful Aggie, he added “all her runs in Ireland were good and her two runs at Lingfield were on a very quick surface and she grows another leg on this ground. It is very quick around there and is the quickest of the all-weather surfaces. She'd have been better off going round Southwell!
“Dylan (Browne McMonagle) said they went very hard and he was always going to win turning-in, and she has galloped clear. Please God she can win again and knowing Joseph he'll find a 1m4f fillies handicap for her somewhere.”
