WEST Ilsley trainer Mick Channon staged a successful raid across the Irish Sea with Czabo landing the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud EBF Park Express Stakes at Naas.
Fourth in last season’s Irish 1000 Guineas, the four-year-old filly showed she had benefited from a race in Saint-Cloud two weeks ago when sticking to her task in good style.
Graham Lee timed his challenge to perfection as the 8-1 shot ran down the Aidan O’Brien-trained favourite Somehow by half a length in Sunday’s mile contest.
The trainer’s son, Mick Channon junior, said: “We took her to Saint-Cloud a few weeks ago. But she was too free for the first half a mile and it was a complete wasted effort.
“She’s done it very nicely. We had fitness on our side and that helped.”
Former Grand National-winning rider Lee recalled it was 25 years since he had his first ride at Naas.
“I knew I had my first ride here,” he said. “I checked and it was January 25, 1992 - 25 years ago.
“The ground is very holding, but she’s got big old feet and she coped with it well.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here