Sudona (GB) (Zoffany {Ire}) gave trainer David O’Meara his 1000th domestic Flat success when taking the Pontefract Sports And Education Foundation H. at the West Yorkshire track. O’Meara, whose stables are in Upper Helmsley on the outskirts of York, took out a licence only in 2010 and is the second-fastest to reach the landmark in the UK after Richard Hannon, Jr. Sudona was sent off the 6-4 favourite and, ridden by stable jockey Danny Tudhope, was always in a handy position from his inside draw. It was pretty straightforward throughout, with Sudona hitting the front in the straight and seeing off his only serious challenger Zlatan (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) to score by a length.
O’Meara told PA, “I’m absolutely delighted. It’s been 10 years and a month since we first took out a licence. When you first start out, you don’t think you’ll get this number at all. Obviously, in the last nine months or a year I knew it was getting close. It’s great.”
O’Meara’s first Group 1 triumph came with G Force (Ire) (Tamayuz {GB}), also ridden by Tudhope, in the Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock in September 2014. Seven more victories at the top level have followed with Suedois (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) (Shadwell Turf Mile), Amazing Maria (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) (Falmouth S. and Prix Rothschild), Mondialiste (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) (Arlington Million and Woodbine Mile), Move In Time (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}) (Prix de l’Abbaye) and Lord Glitters (Fr) (Whipper) (Queen Anne S.). The horse that gave O’Meara a first real taste of the big time was Blue Bajan (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}).
“He was very special,” he added. “He was a real good horse. He won a Group 2, the Henry II and was just touched off in a Yorkshire Cup. On the back of that we’ve had horses like Penitent (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}), G Force, Amazing Maria, Mondialiste, Suedois and Move In Time in the Abbaye. We’ve had a lot of highlights. It’s been a good 10 years. Hopefully the next 10 years will be as good.”
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