David O’Meara enjoyed a successful outing at Epsom Downs on Friday as his stable produced a dominant performance in the £75,000 Trustatrader Handicap. Among his trio of contenders, it was Mirsky who stood out, claiming a convincing win in the extended mile race. The four-year-old gelding, who previously raced in France, has found his rhythm under O’Meara’s guidance and followed up on his recent Thirsk victory with another promising run.
After some initial struggles to break through, Mirsky has now delivered back-to-back wins, confirming the stable’s long-standing faith in his potential. The manner of his performance has now opened the door to an appearance at Royal Ascot, with the Royal Hunt Cup emerging as a likely target. The consistency Mirsky has shown of late is a testament to the patience and belief of his connections.
O’Meara was also encouraged by the efforts of his other two runners. Julia Augusta secured a respectable third place on seasonal reappearance, having shown her liking for Epsom in previous campaigns. Meanwhile, Bopedro stayed on gamely to grab fifth, suggesting he will be better suited to a stiffer test next time out.
Jockey Oisin Murphy, who guided Mirsky to victory, credited O’Meara’s sharp placement and strategic decision-making. Having enjoyed previous success for the yard, Murphy was full of praise for the opportunity and the trainer’s judgement in preparing the horse for this contest.
The action concluded with another notable win in the Debenhams Handicap over seven furlongs. This time it was Partisan Hero, trained by David Loughnane and ridden by Silvestre De Sousa, who got his head in front as the 7-2 chance, rounding off a compelling day of racing at Epsom.
