Aldente and Donagh O'Connor (nearest)© Photo Healy Racing
There were two serious incidents in the Dundalk Stadium Gift Vouchers Apprentice Handicap at Dundalk today as Aldente gained a narrow win in a race where two jockeys received heavy falls and one horse, Clonard Abbey sadly died.
Eventual winner Aldente, under Donagh O'Connor, and runner-up Tham Luang went in pursuit of the leader (Sand Castle) with a furlong to race but Clonard Abbey became sandwiched between both horses, clipped heels and slipped-up in the nasty incident.
Clonard Abbey sadly suffered fatal injuries as he then brought down Capablanca
Clonard Abbey's jockey Gavin Ryan was able to walk away from the fall but was sent for precautionary x-rays while Capablanca's jockey Alan Persse received a heavy fall from Capablanca, and while fully conscious, is thought to have suffered a shoulder injury.
Winner Aldente did eventually quicken to lead close home and beat Tham Luang by a head, with the incident involving the fallers subsequently referred on by the raceday stewards for further investigation.
Aldente's trainer John McConnell later said “she ran ok in Leopardstown but was always ridden dropped in. Shane Foley said she just gallops and to send her forward and that’s what we did.
“She’s tough and genuine and will probably stay further. She had always shown a little bit and loves this surface. The change in tactics made the difference.”
Quotes from Alan Magee
