Fortuitous success for King on Ancient Sands

Set to be crowed champion apprentice in two weeks, Cork teenager Connor King landed the October Handicap on Ancient Sands in fortuitous circumstances in Naas yesterday.

King had left the track, having ridden Focussed in the earlier premier nursery, when contacted to partner the Joanna Morgan-trained five-year-old after his intended rider Christy Geoghegan was unable to do the weight, a situation at least partly due to a power failure at the track which rendered the sauna useless.

Ancient Sands, a winner at the Curragh on Tuesday, duly delivered — completing a four-timer — at the expense of the progressive three-year-old Stony Grey, to the delight of his trainer. “It was my birthday yesterday and this is a bonus. I though this fellow was a 75-horse, not a 90. He’s improving all the time and has so much confidence in himself — I honestly don’t know why.