Starman and James O'Sullivan © Photo Healy Racing
The Declan Queally-trained Starman proved the beneficiary as hotpot The Last Mardi crashed out two from home in the opener at Wexford this afternoon.
It all looked to be going to plan for the front-running 1/4 favourite in the first division of the two-mile maiden hurdle turning for home.
The market leader took a fall at the penultimate flight however and left Fox Leicester and Starman disputing the lead.
It was the latter who got on top going to the last, for James O'Sullivan, and stayed on well in the closing stages for a four-and-three-quarter length victory at odds of 3/1.
Queally said: "It's a great result for his owner Michael Ronayne. He is an elderly man and is very sick at the moment. He will be watching this from his bed and he'll be delighted, this will give him a real lift.
“He had plenty of good horses in the past. His son John Joe buys foals and they are a well-respected family. They have Coolcormack Stud in Dungarvan.
"He is a grand horse. He's had a couple of little problems and we've ironed them out to a certain degree.
“We will see what the handicapper does and probably box away in a couple of handicaps. He was well-held in a Tramore handicap and he probably has a high enough mark of 106.
"James thought Michael (O'Sullivan) maybe had the edge over him but you need luck."
The Last Mardi and Michael O'Sullivan were quickly up after their fall.
(Quotes by Donal Murphy)
