Mehman pulled off a gamble in Dundalk's yearly opening race today, leading home a 1-2 for trainer Ger O'Leary in the Happy New Year From Dundalk Stadium Handicap.

Mehman won his only previous course run last September but was well beaten in two subsequent soft-ground handicaps and today reappeared following a 73-days absence against 11 rivals, including stablemates Primo Uomo and Aloysius Lilius

Backed down from 25/1 at 10am this morning, Mehman was returned a strong 3/1 favourite and in the race gave chase, in mid-division, to pace-setting stablemate Primo Uomo.

Jockey Mark Enright produced the winning four year old to lead close home, defeating his 11 year old stablemate by a neck, into second, with Aloysius Lilius well held in seventh.

O'Leary's assistant Adrian Joyce later reported “that was very good - I really love this horse (Mehmas) and we've always loved him. He shows a lot of class and speed and I'd say he's still a big, raw, weak horse. He travelled very easily and could be better than this grade.

“He has worked like that but he's so big, he just needed time. He's a nice horse and we'll look forward to him.

“Poor old Primo (Uomo) ran his heart out as well and was just unlucky to have that lad in the race. It's great to get a winner at the first meeting back.”

Quotes from Gary Carson