Since making the switch to American racing Eugene O’Sullivan’s Kildorrery point-to-point winner Scorpiancer has proven to be a revelation.
Already a Grade 1 winner from last season when he claimed the 2m4f Lonesome Glory Hurdle, the now eight-year-old stepped-up from his success in the Grade 3 Temple Gwathmey Handicap last month on his seasonal re-appearance, the Scorpion gelding entered the Iroquis Hurdle as the big race favourite, and he duly obliged for his supporters.
Making a decisive move in the hands of Sean McDermott on the final circuit in the Grade 1 contest, the Jack Fisher-trained bay gelding cruised clear of his rivals to run out an emphatic 16-lengh winner in the colours of his owners Burton Street US.
Stable companion Hinterland finished second with Andi’amu a further 40-lengths back in third.
Having won the $200,000 contest which was due to be contested by Willie Mullins’ Nichols Canyon only for the Cheltenham Festival hero to suffer an injury in-transit, Scorpiancer is now eligible for the $500,000 TW Capital Iroquois – Cheltenham Challenge, which will see him pick-up the valuable additional prize if managing to win the Stayer’s Hurdle at next March’s Cheltenham Festival.
Winning connections would not be drawn in the immediate aftermath of the victory as to whether Scorpiancer would go in search of that valuable bonus.
Scorpiancer began his competitive career with immediate success as he claimed an 18-runner five-year-old geldings’ maiden at Kildorrery in Heavy ground for the father and son team of Eugene and Eoin O’Sullivan, whilst running in the ownership of Tomas Singleton.
The Mary O’Connor-bred gelding was subsequently sold for £200,000 at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival sale.
