18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Manny Owens improves to get his first win

Fri 3rd Oct 2014, 18:36

Manny Owens approaches the line in DundalkManny Owens approaches the line in Dundalk
© Photo Healy Racing

Manny Owens the 3/1 favourite for the opening mile maiden in Dundalk, kept on well under Sean Corby to take the spoils by a length and three parts.

His four outings prior to this assignment saw him finish third twice and runner-up twice so he wasn’t winning out of turn.

He was second at the halfway stage before challenging with a quarter of a mile to race. He was ridden to lead at the furlong pole and stuck to his task to beat Great Dancer (9/2) who did his best work in the final 100 yards. It was the same distance back to Moving On Up in third at 8/1.

Trainer Cormac Farrell said: “He has improved all season. Although he handles that surface he really wants it soft. We couldn’t see him beaten the last day, but he got a bit lonely in front.

“That’s him finished for the season now. He could step up next year. He’ll get further than that. It wouldn’t surprise me if he made his way to the good handicaps. We’ll start him off in handicaps. We have the blinkers on him to teach him.

“I have five or six in training, including a couple of National Hunt horses and I’m based in Naas.”

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.