Quinn elated over horse’s race into record books

EX-IRISH striker Niall Quinn is used to last-gasp winners. But the former Arsenal, Man City and Sunderland player admitted to being stunned by the feat of a nine-year-old history-making horse yesterday.

Halmahera, part-owned by Quinn, raced into the history books of all-time greats by becoming the first horse to win the Portland Handicap three times. He was running at odds of 11-1. The race is a feature event on the opening day of the Doncaster St Leger festival.

The winner came with a terrific late burst to get up in the dying strides and land the tote sport-sponsored sprint by a head from Texas Gold.