Gavin Hernon, who is based in Chantilly and hails from Cork, achieved a significant milestone today with his first training victory in Ireland. His filly Spirit D'or (13/2) triumphed in the Curragh's Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes, with jockey Ronan Whelan guiding her to a comfortable two-length win over Gloriously Glam and securing the top prize of €138,000.
Hernon, who remained in France, was not present for the race. Whelan, who has a long-standing connection with Hernon from their time working together with Jim Bolger, expressed his gratitude. "It was a big decision for Gavin to bring her over here, and it was rewarding to be a part of it," Whelan said. "Gavin and I have known each other for many years, and I’m thankful he remembered me."
He continued, "We discussed the possibility during the week and agreed it was worth the risk. It’s a great prize and a lovely win. Gavin has done a fantastic job training her, as she can be quite tricky."
Whelan noted, "Based on her videos and feedback, we knew she was a forward-going filly. The extra furlong was a bit of an unknown, but we were hopeful she’d handle it well if she performed correctly. She has a strong attitude and resilience. I might have arrived sooner than ideal, but I wanted to keep her momentum going."