PADDY Twomey won the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Noblesse Stakes at Cork on Sunday with Bubble Gum. Making her Irish and stable debut, the 7/4 favourite led over a furlong out under Billy Lee, staying on under hands and heels to score by one and a half lengths.
Twomey later said of the filly: “Australian Bloodstock(owners) won the Melbourne Cup (in 2014) with Protectionist and Ronald Raucher is their racing manager and buys their horses.
“They have dreams of winning Melbourne Cups and such, so hopefully we can facilitate them in whatever they want to do. She is a stakes winner now and we’ll find a group race next.”
Leading Lady
Declan McDonogh and Joseph O’Brien took the second listed prize on the afternoon as Lady With The Lamp claimed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cork Stakes. Sent off a 28/1 outsider, the three-year-old stayed on strongly inside the final furlong to beat Vespertilio by half-a-length. Part-owner Kevin Blake reported: “She had a penalty but it was a good starting point. We had been thinking about the Polonia Stakes back here in May or the Chelmer (Stakes, at Chelmsford City) but we’ll have to see now.
“You’d love to think she could run in the Commonwealth Cup, if you were going to go mad, but she has won two listed races now.”
He added: “Myself, Emma (Palmer), Michael (Wilson) and Nick (Luck) are all pals and at the sales, Michael half head-locked Nick into buying the horse. They get a real kick out of it and she has been a dream filly for her purchase price.”
BABY Basma made a winning racecourse debut when landing the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden for trainer Eoghan O’Neill. Carrying the well-known Jaber Abdullah colours, the 17/2 chance kept on nicely under Colin Keane to score by one and a half lengths.
O’Neill later commented: “I’m delighted. Colin said she was just a bit frightened when she came out of the stalls but then she settled grand. We thought Mr Bolger’s (Slaney View) would go on and lead and our filly slotted in behind.
“She had been working brilliantly with nice horses at home and, for what she was doing at home as a two-year-old, I was fairly confident. The obvious next place is at Naas on May 18th (Coolmore Juvenile Fillies Sprint) or the Marygate Fillies’ Stakes at York, so I’ll chat with the boss and see what he says.”
The Fozzy Stack-trained Bodhi Bear justified 11/10 favouritism under Seamie Heffernan when battling on well to win the Buy Your Tickets Now For The Easter Festival Rated Race.
Owned by Mrs J Barrett, the three-year-old found extra close home to prevail by one and a quarter lengths. Winning trainer Stack said: “He didn’t get seven furlongs last year so rather than trying to stretch him out, we decided to keep sprinting.
“We’ll see what Mr O’Gorman’s (handicapper) opinion is. There’s a premier handicap at Naas before the Punchestown Festival and a listed race at Navan for him. Hopefully he will make into that level. He won on easyish ground at Navan but wouldn’t want soft.”
SARATOGA Special opened her account at the fifth attempt when winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. The Jessica Harrington-trained 10/11 favourite was always prominent under Shane Foley before keeping on to win by one and a half lengths.
Afterwards Harrington said of the Alpha Racing-owned victor: “She deserved that and has got stronger this year. We are happy with her although Shane said she was very keen in the early stages.
“He’d have forgiven her being beaten as she was so keen but was fresh and well. “If there is a good pace she could stay six furlongs and we’ll look forward to a nice year. She’ll come back here for the Polonia Stakes next month.”
Tidy bets
The Natalia Lupini-trained Saint Brandon landed some tidy bets in the Dine In Our Panoramic Restaurant Handicap. Sent off 5/2 favourite (from 9/1), the Killian Leonard-partnered colt made most for a two-and-a-quarter-length success.
Leonard, who was filling in for Wayne Lordan, whose brother Pat Lordan passed away on Friday, said of the Craig Bryson owner winner: “Obviously my thoughts are with the Lordan family and I was there to step in today.
“I received the call last night to ride him and obviously it is an unfortunate way to accept the ride but it has worked out in my favour. He has loads of speed, he got racing a little early with me from the gates and I thought he was doing too much, but in fairness to him he quickened up and did it well at the line.”
Good attitude
Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes won the concluding Annual Membership Available Today Fillies Maiden with Bella Isabella. Owned by Moyglare Stud Farm, the 13/2 chance proved too strong for 8/11 favouite Sapphire Princess inside the final furlong.
Kris Weld later said of the one-and-three-quarter-length winner: “It was a nice performance, She was very pleasing and Chris was very happy with her. She showed a very willing attitude. I thought she won nicely at the line.
“She is from a great family which we know like the back of our hands and it goes back a long way now. We’ll see where she fits in as the season progresses and look for a winners’ race next.”