Sassaway and Declan McDonogh beat Anonymous Lady and Acroleina© Photo Healy Racing
Appropriately enough on an All-Ireland hurling final Sunday, Sassaway owned by a syndicate (the Liiimerick grouping) of Limerick hurlers, landed the opening Crowne Plaza Hotel Handicap at Dundalk.
The daughter of Bertolini has been a great servant to her owners, and trainer Eamonn O'Connell, and here on her seventeenth attempt at Dundalk she gained her first polytrack win.
We hadn't seen the chestnut since May, but she was produced fit and well by O'Connell, and she was always to the fore under Declan McDonogh.
The 14/1 shot led a furlong and a half out and she was strongly pressed close home but held on by a neck from Anonymous Lady (didn't enjoy a clear run).
"She got hurt the last day, and was a bit sore after Navan, but she seems to be okay again. She will probably go back to the Curragh again shortly," said O'Connell.
"I just wanted to get a run into her. I knew she was straight enough but she surprised me that she won. She could come back here over the winter, and we'll stick her in foal next year."
G.F. Carroll, rider of Mr Right trained by J.F. Levins, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount hung both ways throughout.
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Longfield Lad trained by John J. Walsh, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
(AM & EM)
