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Punchestown 2024
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Mark Nunan
Lee wins the Boomerang on Space Traveller
Space Traveller (right) and Billy Lee beat Matterhorn
© Photo Healy Racing
A couple of British raiders fought out the finish of the Group Two Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes, with Billy Lee producing Space Traveller (13/2, from an opening 5/1 on course) with a perfectly-timed challenge to master Matterhorn (7/2) by a neck.
The pace-setting Pincheck (20/1) was another length and three quarters away in third, with the 13/8 favourite Lancaster House (reported to be lame post-race) back in seventh.
The Richard Fahey-trained winner, by Bated Breath, had won the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot back in June at odds of 25/1.
“It's the second time in three years we've won our own race (after Suedois in 2017) so we'll take our money back to England. It's a great thrill,” said owner, and race sponsor, Steve Parkin.
“We rode him like that at Royal Ascot when he won the Jersey Stakes. Richard Fahey said to me I'll leave it to you to tell Billy how to ride him.
“I said to ride him cold but when you go for home bring him wide and just send him because he'll keep finding for you.
“He's been winning over five and six furlongs but he's actually a miler all-day-long and I think today's proved that.
“We'll see if we can go get some more pots around the world with him.
“Last year when he won his first two races as a two-year-old we thought he was an absolute aeroplane but then he went off the boil a little bit.
“He was second favourite for the Gimcrack but bombed out. He's come back this year better than ever and stepping him up in trip has worked wonders so well done Richard Fahey.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson