Carbon Dating goes early to clinch win

IRISH challenger Carbon Dating claimed top honours in the inaugural running of the totepool Queen’s Cup at Musselburgh.

With a total prize fund of £100,000 up for grabs, a strong field of 13 runners assembled for the one-mile-six-furlong contest.

Pat Shanahan’s Carbon Dating was a 12-1 shot in the hands of Tadhg O’Shea and after having travelled strongly for much of the journey, he committed for home well over a furlong from home.

While his rivals jostled for position in behind, Shanahan’s charge was in the clear and came home comfortably clear of his rivals.

Maleficent Queen was a length and a half away in second, half a length ahead of the winner’s stable companion, The Tartan Spartan.

O’Shea said: “All credit to the horse, he’s had a busy campaign. He ran all summer last year and went on Dubai.

“He won two races out there, was placed in three Carnival handicaps and rounded off in Abu Dhabi being placed in a Group Three.

“He’s a model of consistency. It was a great pot and a good bit of placing by Pat Shanahan.”

Carbon Dating raced for UAE-based trainer Satish Seemar during the winter before returning to Shanahan’s County Kilkenny yard.

Shanahan said: “It’s great to have him back. He did well in Dubai and came back to be in super form, in fairness.

“He’s only been back with us three weeks, so we just kept him ticking over and we were expecting a big run from him.

“We thought the other horse (The Tartan Spartan) would run well, too, and he was probably a shade unlucky.

“We’ll get them home and make a plan from there.” to