No teething problems as 'big baby' Eastwatch romps to impressive Gowran win
WORTH A WATCH: Eastwatch and Ben Coen win the Gowran Park Racing Club (C & G) Maiden.
Eastwatch, trained by Andy Slattery and ridden by his nephew Ben Coen, proved the most impressive winner on Gowran Park’s Flat card, recording a runaway success in the Gowran Park Racing Club Maiden.
The massively-built Make Believe gelding raced handily, was in command two furlongs out and forged clear to score by nine lengths from Kingstonian.
“He’s a big baby, he’s 16.3 hands and we won’t rush him, but we think he’s very good,” enthused Slattery, “He’s been working very well with (recent listed winner) Sunchart, so we know he’s a fair horse. He won’t run again for six to eight weeks.
“He could be a horse for a three-year-old handicap at Royal Ascot. Longer term, he could be one for Australia or for the jump lads.”
Dermot Weld continued his excellent start to the new season with another double, sparked when Deressa (Chris Hayes), described as “very consistent last year and fit and well coming here” by her trainer, mastered odds-on favourite Win Me Over in the GowranPark.ie Fillies Maiden.
The double was completed in the fascinating finale, the Dine At Gowran Park Race, as ten-year-old Falcon Eight (Leigh Roche) made most of the running before repelling War Rooms and Taipan in the closing stages.
“He’s a gas old horse,” said Weld, whose favourite Romzina (finished fourth) failed to stay. “He’s fit from hurdling, had his ground and enjoyed being in front and got a very good ride.”
Michael O’Callaghan’s newcomer The Liffey Swim (4/1) foiled the Weld-trained favourite Wild Sapphire in the Golf At Gowran Park Maiden, Colin Keane’s mount making all and holding off his rivals, after a good duel, by a length.
“He’s a fine, big horse that has taken time,” explained O’Callaghan. “He’s a real sleeper, very, very switched off – that’s why I put the cheekpieces on him, to sharpen him up.
“They helped and Colin said he was always doing enough to hold the other horse. He could be fairly useful and should get a mile and a quarter.”
The champion jockey completed a 34/1 double when Gambino made a successful debut in the Racing Again April 16th Maiden, beating favourite Royal Hollow by a half-length.
“We bought him as a yearling and he had a few hold-ups, but he’s a fair horse,” said trainer Noel Meade, “Colin likes him and says he’ll go further. He’s a nice horse to have to sell.”
