ATSILA landed a major gamble on debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden at Bellewstown’s first fixture of the year. From as big as 18/1 in the morning, the Phoenix Of Spain filly opened at 15/2 on course and was backed down to 11/4 for this extended seven-furlong contest.
Ridden by Gavin Ryan, she was tardy from the gates and came off the bridle in rear of mid-division two furlongs down. She made headway into third racing to the final furlong and really found her stride to sweep to the front inside the final furlong, going on to win by two and a quarter lengths for Donnacha O’Brien and owner Barry Fowler.
“She was going well at home,” the jockey reported. “She jumped slow and I thought that was kind of me ruled out of the race. Coming on down past the two [furlong pole], I was waiting for the gap and when she got it, she put it to bed very easily. She will improve plenty for it.”
Murtagh hits the right note
Ben Coen drove Emerald Harmony (9/2jf) home by a head in the His Majesty’s Cup Handicap over an extended five furlongs. The four-year-old filly was always prominent and battled with Cuban Grey in the final furlong before shading the verdict in the closing stages for JP Murtagh Racing.
Johnny Murtagh said: “We are hoping she can improve a little bit more this year as a four-year-old. She loved the ground and hit the road well. She is very game and she is very honest.”
TAM Lin rolled down the hill well to win the Veterinary Clinic Ratoath Handicap at an easy-to-back 14/1.
The Starspangledbanner gelding strode to the front two furlongs from home and Shane Foley soon got busy as he kept on to defeat market-mover The Mizen Queen (8/1 - 9/2jf) by half a length.
“This will keep my mother (owner Mrs John Murphy) happy!” trainer Danny Murphy said. “I said to Shane, ‘outside draw here and sneak away’, but I have to say an exceptionally good ride there.
“The horse is thriving; he is growing into a big horse now. He was racing in December off 450kgs body weight and today we threw him on the scales going racing and he’s 480kgs, he is up 30kgs.”
Patience pays off
Michael O’Callaghan’s Rockbury Lad availed of a patient ride from Sam Coen to take the honours in the Mac Tar Ltd. Apprentice Handicap.
The 5/1 joint favourite got the split to mount his challenge inside the final furlong and soon led. Takeachancejimmy flew down the outer in second, but Rockbury Lad was able to fend him off by a neck at the line for owners P.E. Ryan and J.G. Shanahan.
Coen said: “We took our time and it has worked out well in the end. Michael just told me not to get there too soon and thankfully it worked out. He did idle a bit when he got to the front, but he picked up again.”
Syndicate off the mark
Aurora Nova (11/1) came home well to grab the Awardsandgifts.ie Handicap over five furlongs for trainer Andrew McNamara and the Dreams Of Glory Racing Syndicate.
She raced in rear for Wesley Joyce and her forward momentum began at the two-furlong pole. She soon improved into second and picked up Lismacbryan Hill inside the final furlong, going on to win by a length and a quarter.
“He (Joyce) did well to get her across,” McNamara said. “Hopefully the handicapper won’t be too hard on her. It’s great for the owners, it is their first winner. First of many, hopefully.”
A STEP up in trip saw Eastern Wind (4/1) back to winning ways in the Good Enuf To Eat Catering Handicap over an extended mile and a half.
James Ryan had her tracking the pace and let her take it up two furlongs down. She saw it out nicely and was able to hold Doctor Grace by half a length for owners George Ryan and Denise McCourt.
Tom McCourt said: “She ran in a hurdle race about five or six weeks ago in Navan and she was grinding it out well in heavy ground. From that point of view, I thought there was a good chance she would get the trip. She was running a lovely race in Navan and, unfortunately, got brought down.
“That gives us more options and hopefully she will be a bit of fun through the summer.”
The big fella gets off the mark
Noel Meade and Colin Keane teamed up for a winner with Mick Collins in the David McKeown A1 Generators Maiden. Keane brought him to the front in the final furlong and the four-year-old gelding had enough in the tank to score by a neck from Luker’s Tipple for owner Anthony O’Gorman.
“He’s a lovely big horse, so this track is a bit tight for him,” Meade said of the 13/8 favourite.
“He’s a horse that will jump hurdles and wouldn’t be surprised if he jumps fences in time as he’s a huge, big horse. Always thought a lot of him, but his mind is a little bit buzzed. He’s hard to keep settled.”