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Tom Weekes

Tom Weekes

American dirt-bred colt overcomes Gowran's heavy ground

Mon 16th Oct 2023, 15:37

Highland Rahy and Joey SheridanHighland Rahy and Joey Sheridan
© Photo Healy Racing

Trainer Fozzy Stack registered a first top-level success this season in America and today his dirt-bred, Keeneland-bought Highland Rahy (3/1) landed Gowran's Thomastown Maiden - overcoming apparent doubts about handling heavy going.

Bought with an all-American-pedigree for $160,000 as a yearling, the Hard Spun-colt was withdrawn from two recent heavy-ground maidens due to 'unsuitable ground' but today, with time ticking, gained a late-season success when easily beating Toll Stone (1/1f).

Winning jockey Joey Sheridan said “he jumped well, as he always does and Fozzy said to ride him straight forward. He seemed to enjoy that ground and relished a step up in trip. It’s proper deep ground and probably the heaviest I’ve ridden on all year.

“He’s probably only getting the hang of it now and I think there is more to come from him.”

Aspen Grove had credited trainer Royal Ascot-winning trainer Stack with a breakthrough Grade 1 success in July's Belmont Oaks.

Quotes from Alan Magee

1st
3/1
Tote €4.00 €1.70
2nd
8.5L
1/1Fav
€1.10
3rd
1L
9/1
4th
0.5L
9/2
About Tom Weekes
A lifelong racing fan, Tom began writing point to point reports in 2002 and has reported for irishracing.com since 2003, when he joined Irish Racing Services - since taken over by the Press Association. Has ridden a point to point winner and won the 2018 Irish Field Naps Table.