PEARLS Galore has earned a crack at Group 1 company before retiring to the paddocks following an impressive victory in the Group 3 Coolmore Stud No Nay Never Fairy Bridge Stakes at Tipperary.
The Paddy Twomey-trained filly, who landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Brownstown Stakes at Fairyhouse last month, was doubling her tally at Group 3 level and did so with some aplomb.
The well-backed 5/2 shot tracked Thinking Of You before taking over early in the straight and kept on well inside the final furlong under Billy Lee to score by a length and three-quarters. Roca Roma came home strongly on the outer to take second, with Loch Lein half a length back in third.
The 6/4 favourite Pretty Gorgeous, who didn’t enjoy the clearest of runs in the straight, never got in a blow finishing eighth while English raider Parent’s Prayer was never involved after a slow start.
“After the Brownstown I said we’d go straight for the Matron but she was in great form at home and I felt it would be unwise to bypass this one on our doorstep,” said Twomey.
“It was a very good race and we had a 3lb penalty. I thought if she could do what she did there then we could have a crack at a Group 1.
Earned her shot
“I felt it might be a bit fanciful if we hadn’t done something like that. She’s earned her shot wherever it might be. The Matron, the Foret and the First Lady in Keeneland are all options and Keeneland would suit her. It’s a quick, tight mile but we’ll leave the dust settle and come up with a plan.
“She’s bred by Andreas Putsch (Haras De Saint Pair) who races her and raced all her family. I think we’re obliged to go for a Group 1 now.”
THE Abergwaun Stakes was the chief supporting race on the card and talented apprentice Sam Ewing partnered his first listed winner as Master Matt took this five-furlong dash at 14/1.
The progressive five-year-old responded gamely under pressure to hold on by a diminishing neck from the slow starting White Lavender with 9/4 favourite Urban Beat, who stumbled leaving stalls, a length and a quarter away in third.
Winning trainer Matthew Smith, who previously tasted listed success on the flat with Warnaq, said: “Last time at the Curragh the heat got to him and I was a bit worried about the heat again today but he was alright.
“Urban Beat beat him in the Rockingham but they were on opposite sides and Master Matt was in front on his side. I’m not saying he’d have won but they might have been closer.
“I think five is probably his best trip as he has plenty of boot, although he’s won over six and seven. Sam said he was flat out early on but he stays well. He’s entered up in a handicap on Champions Weekend so we’ll see. I’m delighted for the owner Frank Lynch and Sam is a good young lad. It’s great that he’s got a listed winner.”
Keane pace
Colin Keane is setting a blistering pace in defence of his champion jockey crown and is now just three short of a century this season after Panama Red confirmed the promise of two solid runs by landing the Camas Park Stud Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.
Trained by Ger Lyons for the Against All Odds Partnership, the 7/2 chance was never far from the pace and led well over a furlong out for a convincing length-and-a-half verdict over History.
Lyons’ brother and assistant Shane said: “Colin is adamant that she wants an extra furlong when she strengthens up.
“We are delighted to get the bracket out of the way and she will go for the Listed Ingabelle Stakes at Leopardstown on Champions Weekend.
“Colin said she is still a bit weak so if she gets blacktype it’s a bonus, but it’s all about next year with her now.”
Bolger lands a double
GEOMETRICAL, placed in the Futurity Stakes as a juvenile but lightly-raced last year, relished the drop back to an extended seven furlongs in the Meadowview Stables Race.
The Dawn Approach gelding was ridden to assert a furlong out by Kevin Manning and kept on really well to beat Maud Gonne Spirit by nearly three lengths at odds of 5/1.
Successful trainer Jim Bolger was represented by his daughter Una Manning, who said: “He’s going to the Horses-In-Training Sale in October and there is plenty of mileage left in him. The drop back in trip suited him and he travelled very well. He quickened up very nicely and won well.”
Bolger later completed a 113/1 double with another offspring of Dawn Approach as Bosca Cheoil, 40/1 in the morning but sent off at 18/1, was prominent throughout and stayed on strongly under Luke McAteer to beat Clew Bay by a length and a quarter in division two of the @Tipperaryraces Apprentice Handicap.
“We’re delighted with her. She has a lovely pedigree and is the family of Smart Strike, a nice Canadian family. I’d say the boss will keep her now as a broodmare with that bracket,” said Una Manning.
Jazz Dreamers took division one in commanding fashion, making virtually all and going clear for Andrew Slattery early in the straight to beat Olivia Valere by an easy five lengths.
“Hopefully the handicapper wasn’t looking at him!” quipped Seamus Fahey who trains the well-supported 9/2 winner for Anne Gleeson and Helen Butler. “We’re happy with him as he’s a cheaply bought horse and a lot of the crew are here. It’s great to have the people back racing and out enjoying themselves.
“We were concerned about the trip and he actually travelled down pretty bad as well. It wasn’t the plan to make it but he broke so well that Andy decided he’d let him roll on and it worked out a treat,” added the Monasterevin trainer.
Don Julio opened his account in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Claiming Maiden. Trained by Donnacha O’Brien for Atlantic Thoroughbreds, the 3/1 chance travelled well and quickened up nicely between horses a furlong out to beat Hul Ah Bah Loo by a length and three quarters.
Paddy Harnett, partnering his fourth winner of the season, said: “He got a bit worked up the last day at Galway but it was very smooth the whole way today.” The winner was later claimed for €15,000 by John Keogh to be trained by Shane Duffy. The Aidan Howard-trained Future Romance sent punters home happy when repeating a course and distance win in the Tipperaryraces.ie Handicap. The 7/2 favourite got the better of Petitioner in this mile and a half event for Wayne Lordan in the JP McManus colours.