Oisin Orr wins £1m race for Alex Ferguson in Saudi
Rathmullan jockey Oisin Orr, who was the 2023 Donegal Sports Star of the Year, won the Howden Neom Turf Cup at Riyadh aboard Spirit Dancer, part-owned by Alex Ferguson
Legendary former football manager Alex Ferguson praised Oisin Orr after the Rathmullan man steered Spirit Dancer to a money-spinning victory in Saudi Arabia.
Orr guided Spirit Dancer to glory in the Howden Neom Turf Cup at Riyadh. The race was a part of the Saudi Cup meeting.
Spirit Dancer is co-owned by ex-Manchester United manager Ferguson, Ged Mason and Fred Done.
Orr had previous success aboard the Frankel gelding when winning the Bahrain International Trophy in November.
Sent off at 8/1, Spirit Dancer came on strongly on the outside. Orr and Spirit dancer overtook Luxembourg, the 8/13 favourite, with 200m to go.
Orr powered up the straight to seal the top prize of just under £1m STG.
Orr is the stable jockey for Richard Fahey and was again put in the saddle of Spirit Dancer for a big-money race.
"It’s fantastic,” Ferguson beamed. “After Bahrain you come here and look at the field, the performance from Oisin and the horse and Richard, it’s unbelievable.
“Richard made the point he hasn’t had a lot of racing, and I think we see the evidence today. Oisin said this morning the horse is improving all the time.”