Sharinay and Ronan Whelan© Photo Healy Racing
Trainers Michael Halford and Tracey Collins enjoyed another Derby weekend winner when Sharinay overcame trouble in running to land the opening Paddy Power "From the Horse's Mouth Podcast" Handicap at the Curragh.
Prominent from the outset under jockey Ronan Whelan, the 2/1f tracked British raider Arabic Legend during the early part of the race.
With visiting US rider Johnny Velazquez moving up to give chase aboard Thor's Hammer Whelan found himself trapped on the rail with nowhere to go over two furlongs out.
However, as Thor's Hammer began to weaken, Whelan bided his time before switching the eventual winner out to challenge Arabic Legend.
Leading over 200 yards out, the Aga Khan owned son of Harzand kept on strongly to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths.
Michael Halford said: “The form of the last race worked out really well and he's a progressive horse, typical Aga Khan horse that's getting better with racing.
“He has a great mind, a good sound horse, and just keeps improving anytime we want him.
“They generally stay well but the thing with him is he had a lot of pace for a Harzand. He is getting better with the trip.
“We have a hood on him just to keep him settled but you saw him today, he relaxed lovely and picked up well.
“We'll step things up now, he'll go into stakes company now. I have him entered in the Meld Stakes, he'll even go another furlong in time if we need to. We'll take gradual steps.
“Ronan is riding great, he is a very underestimated rider. He rides our horses really well.
“The plan was to drop in and hope the gaps came. Johnny V was leaning on him for a bit and I was getting a bit nervous but when he dropped away he got out and it all worked out.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
