DALLAS Star put a disappointing run behind City Of Troy in the Betfred Derby at Epsom last June behind him when making a winning reappearance in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Race.
The Amo Racing-owned son of Cloth Of Stars, who previously looked a smart sort when landing the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown, made the running under David Egan in this extended one-mile, two-furlong event.
The 7/4 favourite was strongly pressed in the straight before keeping on well inside the final furlong to score by a length and a half over stablemate Persian Bliss and San Andreas, who dead-heated for the runner-up spot.
“David was very happy, and he is going to improve plenty. He picked up an injury in the Derby and hasn’t run since, so it is a great comeback,” said winning trainer Adrian Murray.
“He’ll go now for a listed race in Naas (Devoy Stakes) in the second week of the flat, it is a mile and a quarter as well. He’ll definitely try a mile and a half again and eventually he could be a one-mile, six-furlong horse. He’ll be even better on the turf.”
Amo representative Ryan McElligott indicated the Vintage Crop Stakes at Navan and the Saval Beg at Leopardstown could also be on the agenda.
Lyons is back
Colin Keane completed a double on the evening aboard Athlumney Warrior and Heather, the latter a first runner of the year for trainer Ger Lyons in the Floodlit Friday Nights At Dundalk Stadium Maiden over an extended mile and a quarter.
The champion jockey had to get serious on the evens favourite from well over a furlong out before the Camelot full-sister to Irish Derby winner Latrobe got nicely on top in the closing stages to beat What’s Your Game by two lengths.
“It was lovely to get that box ticked with her pedigree,” said Keane of the Geraldine Magnier-owned filly. “She had a lovely run the first day and with that pedigree, the further they go the better they seem to be.”
Athlumney Warrior also showed the benefit of his debut second at this venue when going one better in the mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Trained by Michael O’Callaghan for the partnership of David L’Estrange, Stephen Barry and Athlumney Farms, the son of Saxon Warrior asserted at the furlong pole and kept on well to beat J M’s Joy by two and a quarter lengths.
“The family usually progress with time and up in trip, so you would imagine he would turn into a nice mile and a quarter, even a mile and a half horse, in time. Plenty of size and scope, and I think with racing and time he is just going to improve,” said Keane of the 2/1 favourite.
STEPHEN Thorne is making a big impression in the training ranks and moved onto the 12-winner mark since taking out a licence just over four months ago when Volatile Analyst took the William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap in impressive fashion.
The Shamrock Thoroughbreds-owned gelding was recording his second win over seven furlongs here this year, travelling well under Jack Kearney and leading over a furlong out to beat Clonmacash by two and a half lengths with the winner’s stablemate Shoot To Kill just a neck back in third.
“Stephen (Mooney) my assistant has done a remarkable job with this horse. He rides him every day and all credit goes to him for rejuvenating the animal,” said Thorne.
“We will be looking at Lingfield (on Good Friday) now, I don’t know if we will be high enough to get into Newcastle. This horse will be dangerous in somewhere like Lingfield because he has the gears to travel.”
Gutsy
Lyle The Crocodile also made it two wins on the Polytrack this year in the seven-furlong Dundalk Winter Series Leading Trainer & Jockey Championship Handicap.
The 5/2 favourite, trained by Joe Murray for his wife Lisa, showed a great attitude under 7lb claimer Sam Coen getting on top in the closing stages to beat Brigid’s Cloak by half a length.
“He loves that surface and is good and gutsy. He never gave up the whole way up the straight. I think he might get a mile in time,” said Coen.
Ben Coen, recently returned from Dubai where he rode 25 winners this winter, and Johnny Murtagh both opened their domestic account for the year as Songhai made a winning debut in the Book Online @ Dundalk Stadium.com Maiden.
The 8/1 chance, by Sands Of Mali and sporting the mainly green colours of JP Murtagh Racing, was prominent throughout and showed some signs of greenness inside the final 150 yards when beating Temperance by three-quarters of a length.
“She was a very nice two-year-old but picked up a couple of little niggly injuries, so it took us a while to get her on the track. Her work has been good at home,” said Murtagh. “She’s a very good mover and Ben said to wait until the ground dries out a bit before running on grass.”
FLY To Glory (7/2) recorded his third win at Dundalk this winter in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Claiming Race, edging onto the far rail over a furlong out and staying on best for Nathan Crosse to beat the odds-on Harry’s Bar by a length and a quarter.
“Little bit quirky, but he’s tough and did that well,” said Pat Murphy, who trains the gelding for the Bajan Invasion Syndicate.
The winner was later claimed for €6,000 by Terence O’Brien, while fifth-placed Prince Of Love joins John McConnell for €10,000.
Tara Power bridged a gap of over three years without a win when taking the concluding Put The Fun in Fundraising At Dundalk Handicap in the hands of veteran rider Niall McCullagh.
The 12/1 chance drifted left after striking the front over a furlong out before keeping on well to beat Nusra by a length and a quarter.
Trainer Keith Clarke was also on the mark the previous Friday with the winner’s half-brother Albion Power and said: “They were working together, two nice horses and a great syndicate (Karl Davis and Phoenix Bloodstock) own them.
“Tara just barely gets a mile and a half and Niall gave him a peach of a ride.”