SUNDAY’S card at Dromahane was dominated by final fence drama.
That obstacle prevented Theatre Native (86x) from posting a winning debut. However, what the daughter of Getaway had achieved up until that mishap signals her out as a mare of immense potential.
Donnchadh Doyle’s charge was always to the fore, racing enthusiastically, and she clearly possesses a notable cruising speed. She had each of her rivals under pressure as she slipped clear on the home bend to build up an unassailable advantage and is one to follow.
Having been foot perfect at each of the 12 previous fences, she cruelly came down at the last when set to post a high-class performance. The winning time and the distance by which she was clear at the last, all point to her being a future blacktype performer.
The final fence also proved to be the undoing of Ferny Hollow’s brother Mirazaur West (93x) in the geldings’ equivalent of that age group on the card. While he may not have been enjoying as commanding of an advantage as Theatre Native when also exiting at the last, he looked to have the measure of the challengers, despite an error at the previous fence.
Giovinco (89+) was the form selection ahead of his reappearance and he travelled best into the race before holding off the rallying eye-catcher Quantum Storm. Both look like obvious future track winners.
After the disappointment of Theatre Native’s late fall at Dromahane, Donnchadh Doyle did get on the scoreboard at Knockmullen House with Flash In The Park (91++). The Walk In The Park gelding ended the race as a contest in a matter of strides, and while the depth of the race will become clearer in time, he could not have dismissed their challenge any easier.
Twenty-four hours earlier and the Necarne card may have been dominated by disappointing small fields, but it did see The Storyteller (104+) pick up his second open of the season. The big eye-catcher was Global Assembly who chased him home on his first start since winning a Belclare maiden by a wide margin in the spring.
The previous weekend it was the turn of Samcro (128++) to earn a record open lightweight rating when winning by 65 lengths at Damma House. That was on a weekend which also saw Killaney King (94++) and Mahon’s Way (93+) put up big efforts in the four-year-old division.