Ocovango Mare Battles For Maiden Hurdle Success

Roisins Ciara (5m Ocovango - Ciara’s Oscar, by Oscar) provided owner/breeder Dr Brid Corkery with her first winner when taking the Three Rocks Mares Maiden Hurdle at Wexford on Tuesday.

The Declan Queally-trained bay finished fourth in a similar contest the previous week and was sent off second favourite under her trainer’s son of the same name. Tracking the leader for much of the two mile contest, she joined the leader approaching the third last and was pushed along before the penultimate flight. Digging deep, she led on the run-in and kept on to prevail by a head on the line.

Speaking after the race, the winning rider said, “That was brilliant. She will probably stay further than that. We might send her home then and bring her back for an autumn campaign.”