Greek Flower

John Feane’s four runners at the Irish Champions Festival all ran well, Vera’s Secret was an impressive winner of the concluding handicap at Leopardstown on Saturday, and Greek Flower ran another fine race in defeat in the sprint handicap that opened proceedings at The Curragh on Sunday.

Held up out the back through the early stages of the race, she made good ground on the far side from the two-furlong marker, and she finished off her race strongly for Jamie Powell, getting to within two and a half lengths of the winner My Mate Alfie, who raced on the near side. Indeed, all the protagonists raced on the near side, and the majority of them raced prominently from early. The first five home were all drawn 12 or higher, and the sixth home, Summerghand, was switched from stall nine and finished off his race on the near side. Greek Flower raced on the far side from her low draw in stall four and, still last of the 25 runners two furlongs out, she did well to get as close as she did, coming from well back in the field. She did best of the horses who raced on the far side, and she was fastest of all through each of the final two furlongs.

A dual winner at the end of last season, John Feane’s mare has carried her progression into this season. She finished second in each of her first three runs this term, including in the Rockingham and in the Scurry, two hugely competitive sprint handicaps, before she lined up in Sunday’s race. She will be of interest now as we move into the autumn. She goes well on easy ground and she goes well at The Curragh, and it appears as if she is equally adept over five and six furlongs.

The Curragh, 15th September 2024
© Sportinglife.com 17th September 2024