MENTIONED briefly in the Pony Tales column of this week’s paper, Donaghadee trainer Clare Cannon paid a successful, if time-consuming, visit to Roscommon on Monday evening as she saddled her father Geoff’s Innamorare to win the seven-furlong claiming maiden.
This was a first success for the three-year-old Intense Focus filly who was bred by Jock O’Connor out of the unraced Bachelor Duke mare Duchess Dee.
The bay was purchased by her trainer, on behalf of her absent father, for just €2,000 at Tattersalls Ireland’s 2016 September Yearling Sale.
Innamorare, who was ridden on Monday by Chris Hayes, wasn’t winning out of turn as she had been placed in four of her previous six outings this season.
The Cannons’ filly is a half-sister to the dual winner Turning The Table (by Mastercraftsman), while Duchess Dee is a half-sister to at least three winners including Cayman Sunset and I’m Supposin.
It was a quiet period for northern-connected winners but the Alan Dunlop-owned Floramar, who is trained by Conor O’Dwyer, won the three-mile handicap hurdle at Roscommon on Tuesday evening.
FAVOURITE SUCCESS
Also that evening, the John Kidd-bred Atlantic Storm justified his position at the head of the market when landing the near two-mile handicap chase at Southwell.
Ridden by Harry Skelton for his trainer brother Dan, the six-year-old September Storm gelding is out of the Double Eclipse mare Double Dream who is dam also of the seven-time winner Tagrita.
Earlier that day, the concluding one and a half mile handicap for fillies at Thirsk was won by the Kevin Maginn-bred Princess Nearco. The four-year-old Elzaam bay is out of the King’s Theatre mare Royal Jubilee whose previous produce include the successful dual-purpose performers Lindenhurst (by Captain Marvelous) and Bogside Theatre (by Fruits Of Love).