Enfranchise and Gavin Ryan win the Ulster Oaks for trainer Shark Hanlon © Photo Healy Racing
Enfranchise provided Shark Hanlon with one of his most high profile wins on the flat when just holding the late thrust of Grecian Slipper to land the BoyleSports Irish EBF Ulster Oaks Fillies & Mares Handicap at Down Royal.
A five-time winner when trained in Britain by Charlie and Mark Johnston, the Invincible Spirit mare was winning for the first time since joining current connections.
Having failed to trouble the judge on three runs over hurdles earlier in the year, the Mee family owned five-year-old really appreciated this return to the flat, travelling easily under Gavin Ryan, before showing a determined attitude once challenged close home.
Well positioned behind the leaders in the initial stages, Ryan moved closer over two furlong out, heading Fiver Friday early in the straight, before facing a real threat from Celtic Crown
After seeing off the latter well inside the final furlong, Enfranchise then had to dig deep to revel Grecian Slipper at the line.
Gavin Ryan said: "She has a lovely pedigree - she is by Invincible Spirit out of Saoirse Abu, a good filly of Jim Bolger's, so she is all there on paper.
"Shark sourced her out of Mark Johnston's and he was very, very sweet on her today.
"She is a filly that will stay all day long. He said minimum trip here today and make plenty of use of her. I committed her plenty early and she probably got a little lonely but I loved when the horse came to her, how hard she fought.
"She does of course (have a real good attitude and will to win) - she's a real, real hardy filly and she doesn't mind getting into a scrap but she will stay all day."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
