Irish Constabulary makes up for lost time

Eight-year-old gelding Irish Constabulary has won his eighth race at Doomben.

Tough gelding Irish Constabulary has continued to make up for his late start to racing with a strong win at Doomben.

Irish Constabulary ($2.90) made light of top weight of 59kg to score his eighth win in two seasons of racing in Saturday’s Spicers Balfour Hcp (1200m).

The eight-year-old spent five years in a paddock in Victoria because of an ownership dispute before he began his racing career as a seven-year-old in a Yarra Valley maiden in November 2015.

The gelding, who is related to former Group One star Shogun Lodge, has made up for lost time winning eight races and being placed eight times for $350,000 prize money.

He is trained by John Symons and Shelia Laxon and has flourished since they moved north to the Sunshine Coast last year.

Irish Constabulary won the Magic Millions Country Cup in January and raced well in stakes races during the winter carnival.

“He was very unlucky in the Lightning and then had no luck in a stakes race at his next start,” Symons said.

“At his last run he was very good when second behind Burning Passion in the Healy Stakes.”

Symons said there had been an option to take Irish Constabulary to Grafton for the Ramornie Handicap on Wednesday but they had decided to head to Doomben.

“He is rising nine but racing well,” he said.

“We might give him one more start before a spell and then bring him back for the Magic Millions carnival.”

The Tony Gollan-trained Sheiswhatsheis ($3.80) and Pindan Pearl ($7.50) who ran one-two in the Brett Whalley and Co Open Hcp (1640m) will probably meet again in the Listed Tattersall’s Mile on Saturday week.

Sheiswhatsheis went straight to the lead and was never headed with Pindan Pearl making a late charge but finishing 5 1/4 lengths back.

Stable representative Hollie Williams said a final decision would be made by Gollan on Sunday after his return from holiday.