Wexford Town (outside) gets up to win the Ulster Derby under Kevin Manning, beating Magnolia Beach (centre) and Azurite© Photo Healy Racing
Wexford Town came from last to first under an inspired Kevin Manning ride as he took the Magners Ulster Derby for trainer Jim Bolger (fourth success in this prestigious contest).
The son of Teofilo, who is a full-brother to last year’s Irish Derby winner Trading Leather, was making his handicap debut this afternoon, while he was also fitted with a tongue strap for the first time.
Slowly into stride the bay colt raced detached in rear and was niggled along from an early stage.
He managed to catch up with his rivals four furlongs from home and was ridden on the wide outside at the three furlong pole.
He made progress over a furlong out but still had plenty of work to do, gradually getting to the front inside the final furlong, holding off the challenge of Magnolia Beach (Colin Keane for Ger Lyons) by a head.
The winner was returned a 7/1 chance (opened at 15/2 on-course), while the runner-up was backed from 7's to 6's on-course.
Ger Lyons was also responsible for Azurite (9/2cfav) who finished half a length back in third under Gary Carroll, while Urban Moon and Notarised the other co-favourites, finished sixth and eighth respectively.
Kevin Manning said afterwards: "He was just outpaced in the first furlong. He was a little bit lost in his first handicap.
"I had to go wide as horses were coming back and I knew I couldn't go through them. I really felt from two furlongs out I would get there. I got lucky on the day. If I had got beat then it would have been a different story."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
