Emotional victory

There was an emotional winner at Galway on Thursday when the Liam McAteer-trained Tasman won the opening race on the card, a competitive beginners" chase under a strong ride from top Drumree jockey Barry Geraghty. Formerly trained by Dermot Weld, the eight-year-old gelding had already finished in the frame at Ballybrit in the past when he was runner-up in a hurdle race in 2006 for Paul Carberry and back in 2004 was second in a flat race for Pat Smullen. The son of Definite Article moved to McAteer over two years ago and the trainer adopted a patient approach with a view to returning to Galway for owner Marie Cusack, wife of the late John Cusack who passed away last year. 'I was delighted that we were able to win a race at Galway for Marie Cusack, but it was very sad that her late husband, John, wasn"t there to enjoy the occasion,' commented McAteer. The late John Cusack was the proprietor of the Cusack Hotels Group until his untimely death last year following illness and he was also the prime mover in the introduction of the Meath Chronicle / Cusack Hotels Sports Personality-of-the-Year award which culminated with the inaugural banquet last February at the prestigious Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim. 2007 Aintree Grand National-winning trainer Gordon Elliott took the overall award from strong opposition which included jockey Philip Carberry and trainer Noel Meade along with nine other monthly winners. This year, the monthly winners also feature personalities from the racing world with Paul Carberry, Nina Carberry and Johnny Murtagh already in the running for the 2008 accolade as recipients of monthly awards. 'I had great time for John Cusackl and he took tremendous interest in this horse, he wanted to win a race at the Galway Festival and it was a bittersweet occasion when his son, Jonathan, received the presentation in the parade ring after the success last week,' added McAteer who is enjoying a good season with half a dozen winners from a relatively small number of runners. Up to last Thursday, Tasman had run only seven times since winning a hurdle race at Navan three years ago and on that occasion Geraghty was on board. 'Barry gave him a great ride and was full of praise for him afterwards, we will have to think carefully about his next race, but I would hope to send him to Tralee later this month,' suggested the trainer. 'It was disappointing for his regular jockey Andrew Lynch who missed the ride through injury, he sustained a heavy fall at Ballinrobe and that kept him on the sidelines. 'Andrew did all the schooling and certainly had Tasman in great shape for the race, but it was also helpful to be able to call on someone as good as Barry Geraghty as a replacement,' he added. There was a huge crowd of 46, 186 at the Galway track last Thursday for Ladies Day which was more than 1,500 up on last year"s corresponding meeting. There was only one winner of the Tote jackpot which boasted a pool of €71,978 and the successful punter scooped €53,983.40. There was another Meath success in the closing race at Ballybrit when James Halpin sent Noble Commander to post under Tara jockey Andrew Duff, a son of popular auctioneer Ron, and the duo duly obliged.