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By Betsy Parker
Rappahannock News Staff Writer
SFERRYVELLE — Displaying the same resilience he’d shown the past three seasons over hurdles — and that he flashed this spring when converted to timber — New Zealand import Erin Go Bragh returned to the racecourse a winner, taking the featured Fletcher memorial at Saturday’s Thornton Hill Hounds Foint-to-Foint.
Away since April, Erin Go Bragh rated kindly for jockey Matt McCarron as Fields of Omagh (Carl Rafter up) set the early fractions, opening up as many as a dozen lengths on two-time Fletcher winner Antonio Star (Diana Gillam up), with Erin Go Bragh and Yokazona (Russ Haynes) tucked in behind.
“He settled well, even on that hilly course,” said McCarron of the steep, hillside Thornton Hill Farm circuit. “He started to go longish [to the timber jump] first time down the mountain, but he changed his mind mid-stride. I just sat still but he put back down at the last minute. How he didn’t touch that jump Fll never know. He’s some kind of athletic.”
Erin Go Bragh recovered from the early mistake to gradually move into contention, taking over the lead with a half-mile to go. Though Fields of Omagh loomed after the last, Erin Go Bragh drew off to win in hand, nearly two lengths clear. Antonio Star was third.
The time was 6 minutes, 8.6 seconds for the 2 1/2 miles.
Erin Go Bragh nearly didn’t make it back to the races after a severe injury this spring. Stakes placed twice over hurdles in 2006, trainer Doug Fout switched the bay gelding to timber this
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