Fahey’s Halla San can turn tables

Jun 13 2009 by Paul Cunningham, The Journal

ONE of Richard Fahey’s training ambitions is to saddle the winner of the John Smith’s Northumberland Plate and he went close to achieving it last year with Halla San.

When the gelding hit the front inside the final furlong, the Malton trainer thought his big day on Tyneside had finally arrived, only for the Irish raider Arc Bleu to spoil the party by getting his head in front in the shadow of the winning post.

The principals could recreate their rivalry in the latest renewal of the Pitman’s Derby in a fortnight’s time when the revised weights give Halla San every chance of turning the tables. Fahey’s stayer is 4lb better off for that narrow defeat.

Fahey has other strings to his Plate bow in Mighty Moon and Dzesmin, although it seems likely that Halla San will be the main hope of the Malton yard after his excellent effort in the Chester Cup when beaten a couple of necks in third. He has since run over an inadequate trip at York.

Gee Dee Nen, having changed stables since his fifth in the Newcastle race last year, is 2lb higher this time, while Inchnadamph (10th), and Brian Ellison’s duo, Tilt and Carte Diamond, 11th and 13th respectively, are entered again.

Highland Legacy, who started 4-1 favouirte a year ago but trailed home in last place after meeting trouble at a crucial stage, is also among the 79 entries for this two-mile handicap that carries guaranteed prize-money of £180,000.