Tom Marquand secured a win on King Of Earth's handicap debut at the Curragh, guiding the William Haggas-trained colt to a narrow victory in the €100,000 Tulfarris Hotel And Golf Resort Maddenstown Handicap.
What happened?
King Of Earth, a third winner on the card for his sire Kingman, was never too far off the pace under Tom Marquand and just got to the front inside the final furlong. The Wolverhampton maiden winner needed to be driven right out to hold off the late surge of Summer Is Tomorrow by a neck, with Liberation Date two lengths back in third.
Why it matters for Tom Marquand
Marquand praised King Of Earth, saying, “He’s a lovely big horse, obviously very well related. He’s learning his job. He had the cheekpieces on for the first time today and obviously it was a bit of a different task from whipping around Wolverhampton with a handful of horses.” Marquand also expressed hope that King Of Earth could improve into a stakes performer at some stage, adding, “Hopefully at some point, obviously he’s got a bit of a way to go. Winning that will knock him up a good bit, just for the race that it was.”
What comes next?
King Of Earth's victory will likely see him rise in the handicap rankings, and Marquand will be looking to build on this success in future races. With King Of Earth's physicality and improving form, he could be a horse to watch in the coming months.
King Of Earth's win marked a successful day for his sire Kingman, who had three winners on the card. The colt's victory was also a testament to Marquand's skill as a jockey, as he expertly guided King Of Earth to victory in a closely contested race.