Ryan and Loughnane join forces to land Group Two at big Irish Derby festival
TWO Galway natives born within a dozen miles of each other combined to plunder one of the big races at the Irish Derby festival at the Curragh last Saturday.
Jockey Rossa Ryan, who hails from Ballinderry near Tuam, and trainer David Loughnane, who comes from Monivea, joined forces to achieve the biggest win of their respective careers with Go Bears Go in the Group Two Railway Stakes.
And a return visit to Ireland’s flat-racing headquarters is on the cards for the Galway duo as Go Bears Go’s connections are now set to target the Phoenix Stakes at the Kildare track in early August.
A head second to Perfect Power in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot just nine days earlier, Go Bears Go made light of those endeavours when coming home one and quarter lengths clear of Castle Star under a confident Ryan.
It was the perfect tonic for the young jockey, who will be celebrating his 21st birthday on July 3, after a spell on the sidelines due to a shoulder injury and an appendix operation.
Ryan had only made his return to the track the day before and his comeback ride saw him triumph on Mark Of Respect at Newmarket for the Jonathan Portman yard.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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