Right And True and Ronan Whelan© Photo Healy Racing
Ronan Whelan maintained his excellent record for trainer Aidan O'Brien this season when partnering Right And True to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Star Appeal Stakes (Listed Race) at Dundalk.
The Kildare jockey, who rode Grateful to win a Group 3 at Fairyhouse in July, was registering a second success for the champion trainer this term.
Prominent from the off, Right And True tracked stablemate Bernard Shaw into the straight, taking over in front over a furlong out.
Coming down the centre of the track, the recent Listowel maiden winner kept on strongly to score by one-and-a-quarter lengths.
Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: "He is progressive. It just took a while for the penny to drop.
"He is a horse that Aidan thought was a stakes horse from early in the year. It is nice that he is now starting to show it.
"Ronan was very happy with him, he said he jumped and travelled. He was able to quicken and he said when he hit the line he thought there was plenty left, so that is a great sign.
"We'll see how he comes out of the race, he's going to be a lovely horse for next year. He could maybe start off in a Guineas Trial.
"If he comes through it (this race) well, he could put himself in the mix for the Breeders' Cup. We'll see where he fits in with the rest of the team.
"He came on nicely from Listowel and it is great to see that he is starting to deliver the promise that he showed at the start of the year.
"Ronan has only had a few rides for us this year. He won a Group 3 in Fairyhouse on Grateful, he gave her a lovely ride and was placed on one of the fillies (runner-up Garden Of Eden) in the Ingabelle on Champions Weekend.
"In fairness, all those good riders when they are there, and there are spares available, you have got to use them."
The win saw Ronan Whelan reach the half-century mark for the season, the first time he has ridden 50 winners.
Additional reporting by Michael Graham.
