Aisling Oscar Makes History With Record-Equalling Eighth Straight All-Weather Win
2 minutes Aisling Oscar wrote his name into the modern all-weather record books on Thursday evening as he landed the Win £250,000 With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Handicap at Southwell.
Aisling Oscar wrote his name into the modern all-weather record books on Thursday evening as he landed the Win £250,000 With BetMGM’s Golden Goals Handicap at Southwell, completing an extraordinary sequence of eight consecutive victories.
The five-year-old, trained by Adrian Keatley, justified favouritism at 3/1, showing his trademark toughness to prevail by three-quarters of a length and equal a feat last achieved nearly 30 years ago when Ballynakelly won eight handicaps between 1995 and 1996.
Having won his previous seven starts at Newcastle, Aisling Oscar was facing a new test on Southwell’s deeper surface, but any doubts were quickly dispelled. Ridden with confidence by Oisin McSweeney, the gelding travelled strongly throughout before asserting inside the final furlong to see off Studious and Shaw Park in a competitive 11-runner field.
Purchased for just 3,200 guineas from the Tattersalls September Online Sale, Aisling Oscar’s rise has been nothing short of remarkable. He began his winning run off a handicap mark of 46 in November and has climbed rapidly through the ranks, with Thursday’s success confirming him as one of the standout all-weather performers of the winter.
The victory also keeps connections firmly on course for the £100,000 All-Weather Horse of the Year bonus, having already collected a series of monthly awards during his prolific campaign.
Speaking after the race, Keatley paid tribute to the gelding’s constitution and attitude, highlighting his ability to thrive under a busy racing schedule and adapt seamlessly to a new track.
“This horse just keeps answering every question we ask of him,” he said. “To win eight on the bounce and match a record that’s stood for so long is a huge credit to everyone involved.”
With history now secured and the all-weather season still in full swing, Aisling Oscar’s winter story shows no sign of slowing down.
