REMEMBER the name Dippedinmoonlight was the clear message emanating from Sunday’s well-attended Clonakilty meeting, hosted by the Carberry Foxhounds on the picturesque Inchydoney Island. The Darragh Berry-owned/trained newcomer claimed her stunning victory in the four-year-old mares’ maiden.

Dippedinmoonlight (4/1 - 5/1), possesses an extremely interesting pedigree. Her Cape Cross-sired dam is a half-sister to the mighty Goldikova who won no less than 14 Group/Grade 1s to become champion older European mare in the three years from 2009 to 2011.

The daughter of Zaak was gone beyond recall from two out and was crossing the line under Berry’s nephew Josh Berry as the remainder of the 11-runner field were negotiating the last. 40 lengths the official winning margin over Arctic Beag with a further 18-lengths to third-placed Kiara Du Mazet.

“I had eight horses in this season, but they all got sick,” reported the elder Berry. He then added: “I’m delighted and fair play to bloodstock agent Darren O’Dwyer for buying this filly for us at Goffs back in February. She’s lovely and Josh [Berry] has done all the schooling with her at home.”

Dippedinmoonlight was due to be offered at the Tattersalls Ireland sale of pointers at Fairyhouse this past Wednesday evening.

Freddie’s commanding win

Another that was due to go under the hammer at the Co Meath venue was Freddie’s Back (4/1 - 5/1), the debut winner of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Freddie’s Back was always travelling sweetly close to the pace under handler John Wash’s son, James Walsh, and the pair overtook long-time leader Corbally Cross after three out. The winning son of Malinas, representing the winning rider’s wife Aine Dagg, was always in command thereafter and he returned with two lengths in hand over Wild Nephin. Corbally Cross secured the minor honours, a further half-length adrift.

“This fellow was bought privately as a three-year-old and he’s a nice horse that has always shown plenty. He will probably need a bit of time,” said the winning handler of Freddie’s Back, a half-brother to three-time track winner Junior Rattler, whom he likewise started off in points in 2019.

Barton Sky (6/1 - 8/1) justified the lengthy trek from handler Willie Murphy’s Rathoe base in Co Carlow by coming home as he pleased for Pa King in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

Barton Sky, owned and bred by his handler’s near-neighbour Thomas Hutton who also incidentally bred Barton Bank, overcame keenness by hitting the front approaching three out. The winning son of Snow Sky was then well in command when blundering at the last. It’s didn’t make the slightest difference as the six-year-old dismissed veteran Borriswood by an unchallenged nine lengths.

THIS season’s champion handler Colin Bowe, fresh from his three-timer at Ballingarry the previous afternoon, combined with Bertie Finn to record a doble, opening their account courtesy of Divilskin (2/1 - 5/2) in the winners’ of two.

Divilskin, who got off the mark for the season in a Loughrea winners’ contest two weeks earlier, made smooth progress from the rear of the nine-runner field on the ascent from the fourth last.

He assumed command approaching three out to see off the consistent I Masked Du Potier by eight lengths in the familiar Milestone Bloodstock Ltd silks.

“He’s a very honest horse that likes nice ground and I’m really looking forward to the future with him now,” reported Bowe of the Doyen-sired Divilskin, an authoritative four-year-old maiden winner at the now-defunct Largy circuit in April 2022 that then finished a well-held fourth on his track debut in a Southwell bumper during a year-long spell with Paul Nicholls.

Doyen defy’s late challenge

Recent Loughrea runner-up Doyen Evening (evens - 5/4 favourite) completed the Bowe/Finn brace by recording a narrow success in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.

Doyen Evening, owned by Owen Murphy and homebred by his late father Brendan, was always on the pace and edged into a narrow advantage before two out. Shuil Siorai soon moved through to challenge under Dara McGill, but couldn’t quite get past the victorious five-year-old in the closing stages and there was still a head between them at the line.

Elsa Bay stayed on to finish third, a further one and three quarters of a length adrift.

SHANE Cotter has been one of the undoubted success stories of the season and the 17-year-old from Britway sealed victory in the Under-21 riders’ championship by steering Denis Murphy’s newcomer Berkenshtaaap (2/1 - 5/2) to success in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The stylish Cotter then concluded the campaign on 15 winners, leaving him two clear of Dara McGill.

With runner-up Ballyredinkingston coming under pressure two out, the winning son of Berkshire forged clear on the flat under a motionless Cotter to score by five lengths. El Bugsy meanwhile finished a further 17 lengths adrift in third, having secured that spot on the run-in.

Owner/trainer Murphy reported of Berkenshtaaap, a €6,500 acquisition as a foal that traces back to Italian Group 1 winner Posidonas: “He’s a nice young horse that’s still very backward and we were nearly going to leave him off, but we didn’t as Shane [Cotter] was going for the Under-21 riders’ championship.”

Horse to Follow

Ballyredinkingston (T. Keating): This grey, a 2023 Derby sale graduate that’s a half-brother to Grade 3 novice hurdle winning mare Just Janice, stepped forwards from his fifth-placed Bartlemy debut effort two weeks earlier by chasing home Berkenshtaaap in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden. The son of Kingston Hill should develop into a track winner next season.