Light Heavy battles to brave Derrinstown win
Report: Leopardstown, Sunday
Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes (Group 2) 1m2f, 3yo
THE gutsy Light Heavy landed his third victory of the season when he stuck on bravely to deny the front-running Tower Rock for trainer Jim Bolger and jockey Kevin Manning.
The son of Teofilo, sent off the 15-8 second-favourite, drew alongside the long-time leader approaching the furlong pole and he found plenty for pressure as the line approached.
It is unlikely the winner will be supplemented for the Investec Derby, when Bolger is likely to run Parish Hall, and he could next run in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on June 30.
Bolger said: "He is very tough and genuine. He was not mad about the ground but got through it. It is onwards and upwards from here."
Wrote, trained by Aidan O'Brien and stablemate of the runner up, was sent off the 8-13 favourite but failed to quicken as the leading pair powered clear.
Tower Rock, who finished third to Light Heavy when they met in the P.W. McGrath Memorial Ballysax Stakes last month, led from the start under Seamie Heffernan as Light Heavy tracked closely in second. Wrote and Ryan Moore seemed content to sit further back.
Alarm bells began to sound for the market leaders when Tower Rock kicked from the front as he moved into the home straight.
Wrote attempted to stay on for Moore but Light Heavy began to eat into Tower Rock's rapidly diminishing lead and hit the front inside the final furlong.
He stayed on strongly under Manning to edge out Tower Rock near the line and the pair were seperated by a neck. There was seven and a half lengths back to Wrote in third.
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