VASTONEA WAS THE winner of Topaz Mile European Breeders Fund Handicap on Day 2 at the Galway Festival today.
Trained by Kevin Prendergast and ridden by Declan McDonogh, the 7/1 shot arrived late to pip Pintura, who had looked to have tied the race up, by a half a length.
“Kevin always believed in this horse,” owner Norman Ormiston said on Sporting Life. “He had lots of problems as a yearling, but Kevin always said there was a big one in him.
“Declan rode a blinder.”
The Topaz Novice Hurdle got the action underway earlier in the day, with Face Value winning that one.
The Adrian McGuinness-trained four-year-old and jockey David Splaine were pushed hard by He’s Our Man and Ross O’Sullivan before Zuzka and Ruby Walsh made a challenge but the pair managed to hold on for the win despite jumping poorly over the final fence.
In the following race, the 2m 6f Latin Quarter Steeplechase, Andrew Leigh was first home on board 6/1 chance Pride Of The Arctic. The seven-year-old had a five-and-half lengths win over Supreme Doc with Definite Class in third.
Dermot Weld continued his superb form with a fourth winner of the festival thanks to 9/2 favourite Voleuse De Coeurs in the Topaz Handicap, who won by a margin of eight lengths over Domination.
Magic Dream and Joseph O’Brien took the Caulfieldindustrial.com European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden while Golden Shoe, ridden by Chris Hayes, was a 13/2 winner in the Caulfield Industrial Athlone Handicap.
The Prendergast and McDonogh combination had the final say with Maude Adams winning the the Caulfieldindustrial.com EBF Maiden.
