Stuccodor (left) is driven up by Pat Smullen to beat Fiesolana© Photo Healy Racing
Stuccodor completed a five-timer, three of which have been gained this year within the past month, when driven out by Pat Smullen for a workmanlike success in the Follow Tipperary Races On Facebook Race.
The Dermot Weld-trained gelding was sent off the well-backed evens favourite in the absence of Reply (stone bruise) but it was far from plain sailing for the progressive four-year-old in this seven-furlong conditions event. Fiesolana (12/1) took over from the trail-blazing Hurricane Twister entering the straight but was almost immediately challenged by the favourite.
However Stuccodor needed all of Smullen’s strength to gradually wear down his rival inside the final furlong for a half-length verdict. Bubbly Bellini (10/1) was a further three and a half lengths away in third.
Weld said, “He had to battle hard to win but got a good positive ride and he handled the ground well. He’ll keep going as long as the ground is like this but will get his summer holidays when it dries up.
“He has schooled over hurdles and that’s where his future will lie. It needed a horse to stay well to win today.”
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
