Plan goes to perfection (From Gazette & Herald)

Plan goes to perfection

Altay has received his deserved reward for gloriously bringing to fruition a plot hatched six months ago.

The Richard Fahey-trained gelding came up trumps in the Merewood Homes Swinton Handicap Hurdle at Haydock last Saturday, winning a first prize of over £40,000, and providing Ryedale jockey Padge Whelan with the biggest success of his riding career.

And the gelding's reward? "He was out in the field the following day," said Fahey.

"He's on his holidays now for the summer. If any horse deserves a break, it's him."

Altay, having enjoyed a profitable winter of Flat racing on the all-weather tracks, which included a controversial victory at Lingfield, where he won the race, lost it in the stewards' room and was then re-instated on appeal, has since developed into a high-class hurdler.

"We've had this race in the forefront of our thoughts for six months," admitted Fahey.

"The best-laid plans don't often come off, but this one has, which is great."

Fahey believes the best could be yet to come from Altay.

But we'll have to wait for a while to find out. For the time being, the gelding is on his hols.

Updated: 13:20 Wednesday, May 07, 2003