Ronan Whelan with some Back Off Mate-coloured baloons!© Photo Healy Racing
The Arthur Moore trained Back Off Mate completed the full set of wins at Sligo today when adding the flat Sligo Weekender Apprentice Maiden to previous hurdle and chase wins.
Afterwards Moore stated “Ronan (Whelan, winning jockey) has been knocking on the door for us for a couple of years and that's his first winner for us.
“He (Back Off Mate) was second in the race last year and was entitled to go close. The ground was too fast for him at the Curragh the last day and doesn't let himself down then.
“He'll mix it and go for a hurdle or chase at Tramore in a couple of weeks and will then come back to the Curragh in September for an amateur race in which he was second last year. He pays his way, is very genuine and has now won on the flat, over hurdles and over fences.”
Quotes from Gary Carson