First Group 1 winner for Noel Meade
Some 50 years in the making, but worth waiting for as trainer Noel Meade landed his first Group 1 winner when landing the Tattersalls Gold Cup this afternoon at the Curragh with a Helvic Dream.
Earlier this year, on Saturday 2nd January the seven-time champion trainer celebrated his 70th birthday and marked the occasion with a winner when the aptly-named Hes A Hardy Bloke landed the opening race at Cork.
That was one more victory as the Meath trainer heads towards the 3,000-winner mark in a career that spans more than half-a-century since he had his first runner back in 1970 when he held a permit to train his own horse - Tu Va.
Today at the Curragh, champion jockey Colin Keane was on board the Meade-trained Helvic Dream which was attempting to beat the Aidan O'Brien-trained favourite Broome.
It came down a shoot-out in the last 100 yards as Helvic Dream benefited from a typical patient and well-timed run from the champion jockey and as the duo flashed past the post the verdict was a short-head.
"I've had a few horses placed in Group 1 races, but that the first win and it means a lot," commented Meade.
You'd never think that you would get soft ground at the end of May, but it came right for us and Colin was brilliant, he's a smashing young man and a credit to his family," added the Castletown trainer.