Owner Tony Killoran was justifiably delighted with his Tagula gelding recording his ninth race win in a very competitive Sandown Park handicap yesterday evening. Party Island was back over ten furlongs at the Esher track, and was expertly handled by jockey George Bass, who produced him to take the lead just over a furlong out and hold on very gamely in the closing stages to seal the win. It seems a long time ago that he had his first career win on soft ground turf at Haydock (in fact four years ago) - all his subsequent wins being at Lingfield and Kempton - but the way he stayed on yesterday up the Sandown hill and on good ground, promises that he still has more to offer on turf tracks. George clearly gets on very well indeed with Party Island : he has now ridden him to no less than seven of his victories, and hopefully there will be more to come in the near future.