Stradater (left) is driven out by Fran Berry to see off One True Love© Photo Healy Racing
The Fran Berry ridden Stradater rallied gamely in the closing stages to see off the 2/5 favourite One True Love in the Jigabite Playing Live 21st June Maiden.
The four-year-old son of Catcher In The Rye finished a decent fifth to Zeftan on his debut over the course last month, but he disappointed on his next outing, finishing a well beaten sixth of eight behind King Of The Romans at Ballinrobe.
His first two outings were over a mile, and a mile and a furlong, and dropped back in trip to seven furlongs this evening, he was sent off at 12/1, having drifted from an opening show of 10s.
He led from the start until One True Love ranged menacingly alongside him two furlongs from home.
However she appeared reluctant to go on about her job and the winner fought back when joined, going on to score by three parts of a length from the Joseph O’Brien ridden 'jolly' in second. Senor George put in a fine effort on his debut to finish three lengths back in third under Ian Queally for Pat Flynn at 33/1.
Tommy Stack said afterwards: "The ground was probably too heavy at Ballinrobe the last day and maybe the trip was too far. Seven furlongs to a mile is probably his distance.
"It’s good to see him winning and it’s always nice to have a homebred winner." Glowing Star clipped heels and slipped up in the early stages under Gary Carroll and thankfully both horse and rider were none the worse.
Seamie Heffernan pulled up Elusive Joe soon after, and he reported that his mount didn’t handle the track.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
