CHAMPION jockey Pat Smullen was on the mark twice at Dundalk on Friday evening and partnered two slightly differing all-weather specialists, Hes Our Music in the Dundalk Stadium Claiming Race, and the Welsh-trained Dougan in the featured Dundalk - Light Up Your Night Handicap, to wins.
Smullen’s first winner was gained on Dundalk-specialist Hes Our Music (6/4 favourite), who was gaining his seventh course win, and his eighth in a fine career, in the claimer.
Smullen made all on the son of Oratorio, who went on to record a length win over Toccata Blue.
Winning owner/trainer Pat Flynn wasn’t present but Smullen, who partnered the gelding on his first win at Dundalk in 2012, later said “He’s an amazing old horse and loves the surface. Coming back in trip was never going to be an issue for him and to be honest I thought he had a great chance again tonight.
An hour later, four-year-old Dougan (13/8 favourite) landing the featured 24,000 Dundalk - Light Up Your Night Handicap, under Smullen, registering his fifth win at an all-weather racecourse.
The David Evans-trained winner had previously won at Kempton, Lingfield (both twice) and Wolverhampton and today benefitted from a fine ride from Smullen who produced the Shropshire Wolves-owned gelding to lead in the closing stages for a neck win over Togoville.
Welsh-based Evans was at the venue and later reported: “He’s got a lot of ability and Pat said they didn’t go quick enough; he needs a fast gallop, to come off it and time it right. He’s only won by a little bit but there is a lot left in the tank. He’s the reason I came - my other two runners were drawn out in the carpark and they probably ran okay from their draws.”
SHABRA WINNER
Another course specialist to win on the evening was Shabra Emperor (4/1), who gained a sixth win, and a seventh in total, at the Co Louth venue in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap.
Ridden by Conor McGovern, the Rita Shah-owned son of Holy Roman Emperor beat Knights Templar by a length and winning trainer Anthony McCann stated: “He’s been a very good servant and we were just a bit unlucky last week as we left it a bit late.
“Over the mile they went a wee bit slow for him and he was pulling too keenly. Everything worked out today and the only thing I was afraid of was the draw (3).
“The handicapper gave us a chance but he needed everything he got at the same time. The season is only starting here and we’ll keep him going.
“It was great to give Conor a winner as well - he’s a Monaghan man like myself so it’s good to keep it in the county!”
Wins have been a little more difficult to come by with Red All Star (12/1, in the colours of the Gaeltacht Partnership) but the Ger Keane-trained gelding scored his second success, in the five-furlong Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Handicap, under jockey Killian Leonard.
The 45-rated son of Haatef was a maiden winner in 2014 and did well to overcome a wide draw in 13 today when scoring a half-length win over 6/4 favourite Strategic Force.
Keane explained: “He’s a grand horse but gets very wound up when he goes racing so we take him out early as the less fuss the better. I think he’s well handicapped and could win a couple with a bit of luck.
“Killian reckons five is his trip but I don’t think there is anything in the next couple of weeks so we might chance him over six as well.”
Keane’s jockey son Colin Keane was on the mark 35 minutes earlier in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, on the Johnny Murtagh-trained and Qatar Racing owned Blitz (5/2), who scored a length win over Idyllic Acrylic.
Murtagh said: “We always thought she’d win a maiden. She didn’t handle the soft ground at the Curragh but her last run up here was good.
“She’s very quick and quick out of the stalls. The last day we dropped her in but she got trapped wide and couldn’t get in and today Colin said he’d just keep it simple. It’s very important for those fillies to win their maidens and hopefully she could improve a little bit over the winter. I haven’t spoke yet to Peter (Molony, Qatar Racing) or the team yet but I’d say that could be it (finished) for the year.”
The other maiden on the card, the www.dundalkstadium.com Maiden, was won by 33/1 chance Archer’s Up for owner/trainer Richard Brabazon and jockey Leigh Roche.
The twice-raced son of Archipenko was later reported by Brabazon to be a “horse we’ve always liked a lot.
“His last run was on sticky heavy ground and he didn’t like it. He probably wouldn’t be mad about the all-weather either but it’s getting late in the year. I think he’s a horse for next year - his dam was second in a Group 2 so we’re entitled to dream a bit with him.
“He’s a lovely raw horse and the fact that he’s able to do that on his third run has got us excited. I’d say he’s a good ground horse on the grass. It’s great experience for him and should crown him.
The concluding Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Handicap was won by the Ellemarie Holden-trained My Direction (9/2), under a well judged ride from Oisin Orr, who scored a half-length win over Mainicin.
Holden, who trains the gelding for her father Paul Holden, later said: “That’s brilliant. He’s run up to his form and absolutely loves this surface. If he hadn’t run well tonight we were going to give him a break, but he’s obviously not ready. We’ll keep him going and pick something again in about three weeks time.
Acting Stewards J. Murphy, A. Byrne, E. Galvin, P. Law. P.D. Matthews.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
IDYLLIC ACRYLIC (W. M. Roper) She was second in the opening maiden and has shown enough thus far to suggest she will take plenty beating in a similar race next time.