Bear Story (centre, nose-band) wins under Ronan Whelan© Photo Healy Racing
Backed from 5/1 into 100/30 favourite ‘on the show,’ Bear Story upstaged a couple of Ballydoyle runners to triumph in the Group Three Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Diamond Stakes in Dundalk.
There were much bigger prices about Bear Story earlier, and he kept jockey Ronan Whelan in the headlines after a noteworthy success at Listowel yesterday on Willie Mullins’ Rebellito.
Here Whelan chased the leader on Bear Story, and they were fourth over four furlongs out. Switched left over two furlongs out, the successful son of Kodiac closed and was ridden over a furlong out.
He strongly challenged the leader under a furlong out, leading in the final hundred yards, keeping on best to see off Lough Derg by a neck.
It was a half a length then to another Aidan O’Brien runner, Khartoum in third. Khartoum was nearest at the finish after missing the break.
Said winning trainer Michael Halford afterwards: “He’s been a nice improving horse all year and wasn’t having much luck. He got shuffled back the last day at the Curragh and got interfered with again up the straight.
“He’s a big scopey horse who ran well in the Ulster Derby and the Royal Whip and has been progressing as the year has gone on.
“I’m thrilled for his owner (Johnny Connaughton) who has been very good to us. He’s a homebred horse so it’s a great boost for him to get a Group race.
“He won his maiden here last year so we knew he’d go on it and the trip is ideal for him. He’s got a lot of heart and Ronan gave him a lovely ride.
“The plan all year was to get black type with him and he’s done that. He’s a horse with lots of options and could travel — he could go to Dubai.
“The Trigo in Leopardstown is another race we had picked out for him. He’s a fresh horse and hasn’t had a lot of racing so he could go there next.”
The Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board Veterinary Officer examined Dubai Warrior (GB), trained by David Loughnane (in GB), at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
(AM & EM)
