Long-absent Louie De Palma wins for first time in nearly five years
There are patient owners, and then there is Peter Ridgers. In 2014 Ridgers had an exciting juvenile prospect in Louie De Palma, who won his first two starts before finishing runner-up to Ivawood in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood.
However, injuries then intervened with the setbacks amounting to a four-year absence. The son of Pastoral Pursuits overcame those to return to the track last season, 1,381 days after his Goodwood second, and much to the delight of connections here, secured a first win since his two-year-old season in the 6f handicap.
A tear or two was shed upon the seven-year-old's triumphant return, and Ridgers said: "He's had injuries and operations and now we've finally got him back. We live a mile down the road and it's fantastic."
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