Michael Grassick eyes Irish Champions Weekend for progressive sprinter Verhoyen

Michael Grassick is eyeing another major payday with last weekend's Scurry Handicap winner Verhoyen, who is being aimed at the lucrative €150,000 Bold Lad Handicap at the Curragh on Irish Champions Weekend.

In the space of 74 seconds, Verhoyen more than doubled his career earnings when bagging the €150,000 Scurry Handicap at the Curragh on Oaks weekend, and Grassick is fancying his chances of snaring another valuable prize over the same course and distance on September 15.

Grassick said: "We're very happy with him and the plan is to go for the Bold Lad on Irish Champions Weekend.

Michael Grassick: eyeing Irish Champions Weekend for VerhoyenCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"We were actually debating whether we'd run him last weekend at the Curragh because of the ground, but luckily there was 7mm the night before and, after walking the track on the morning of the race, we said we'd take our chance.

"He's come out of the race in great nick and the Bold Lad would look like the obvious target. He has gone up 11lb for winning the Scurry and that takes him to a mark of 91 so you'd be hopeful he might develop into a Listed or even Group 3-class sprinter."

Last weekend's Scurry success represented Grassick's biggest financial coup as a trainer but, in terms of prestige, stable star Texas Rock, who finished fifth behind Verhoyen in the Scurry before running at Fairyhouse during the week, holds the mantle as the highest achiever having landed a pair of Listed prizes in 2017.

At eight years of age, Texas Rock is entering the twilight stages of his career, making Verhoyen's victory all the more important.

The trainer explained: "Texas Rock has been a star for the stable, but he obviously can't go on forever so we're hopeful that Verhoyen can carry the baton now."

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