ABSENT handler Colin Bowe still figured among the winners at the Co Down venue, as he sent out the impressive Heartbreak Kid (4/1 – 7/2) to make a stunning debut in the four-year-old auction race under Barry O’Neill.
Initiating a brace for the Wexford rider, the newcomer relished the soft underfoot conditions, quickening off the strong pace set by Flying Garry to record an ultra-impressive success. Carrying the colours of Brendan Walsh, he scored by a distance from the Brian Hamilton-trained Kearney Hill. Acquired for €6,000 by Derek O’Connor and Donald McCain at the Goffs Land Rover Sale last year, the son of Getaway is a half-brother to dual hurdle winner Sonic, who is trained by McCain.
O’Neill remarked: “He’s a smashing horse and loves soft ground. I think he is a classy sort and we will head to the sales now.”
DOUBLE
Mr Hendricks (3/1 – 4/1) provided Barry O’Neill with the second leg of his double when taking the five-year-old geldings’ maiden for owner/handler Kate Harrington.
Purchased by Kate for €20,000 at the 2017 edition of the Tattersalls Derby Sale, the Milan gelding was always to the fore in this competitive 15-runner contest.
Cuff Parade was still travelling well beside the leader when falling three from home, leaving the dark bay with a two-length advantage at the penultimate fence.
The towering gelding quickened clear before the last, where his closest pursuer Islandray unseated Anthony Fox, scoring by 15-lengths from the well-supported newcomer Big Leg Up.
An elated Harrington, who was saddling her second winner between-the-flags said: “He’s a gorgeous big horse. He’s really filling out and he has thrived after his run the last day. He is from a good pedigree and there will be loads of improvement in him. The plan would be to go to the sales now.”
A thoroughly well-deserved success came the way of Dontgetfooledagain (3/1 – 7/1) in the older geldings’ maiden following two-placed efforts at Punchestown and Kildorrey recently.
The son of Arvico made much of the running under Shane Fitzgerald and turning for home there were three in contention.
Saxophonic was coming home well under Barry O’Neill when falling at the last, while Cosmic Flight rallied late under Ben Crawford, but the Shane Hassett-trained gelding held on to score by three-parts of a length in the closest finish of the day.
The winning handler’s father Paddy was on hand to comment: “That was great. Shane (Fitzgerald) gave him a great ride from the front and he battled well. He will probably keep pointing and we will look for a winners’ contest next.”
Carrying the colours of Shane’s partner Jane Davis, the six-year-old was purchased at the Goffs UK May Sale for £13,000 in 2016.
Décor Irlandais (1/1 – 2/1 – 5/4 favourite) scored for the second time this campaign following his maiden victory on the opening day of the season.
Having fallen on his two subsequent starts, the Hello Sunday gelding was given a mid-season break and returned a comprehensive winner under Noel McParlan.
The Noel Kelly-trained runner was held-up in the early stages and hit the front before the last to score by 10 lengths from the Caroline McCaldin-trained Mainstown winner Samurai Cracker.
The winning handler said: “He’s a good horse and is better on good ground. I was a little afraid of the soft ground but he was a different class and will improve again for that. He could run in the maiden hunter chase at Downpatrick or go to Portrush.”
Daenerys Stormborn (5/1 – 6/1) initiated a double for Derrylin handler David Christie when getting off the mark in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden. Held up in the early stages under Rob James, the September Storm mare was produced to lead soon after the penultimate fence and went clear for a decisive 12-length success from the Stuart Crawford-trained newcomer Early Days. A half-sister to the Bob Back gelding Strongpoint, who scored seven times on the track and was placed in graded company over hurdles and fences, the Eoin and Karen Barry-owned mare is from a nice pedigree.
“She tends to be a difficult mare and pulls very hard, but Rob got her settled well and dropped her out. She jumped and travelled well today. She’s only learning her game and should win mores races,” commented Christie.
Stable companion Horendus Hulabaloo (3/1 – 9/2), winner of a four-year-old maiden at this venue back in 2013, brought up a double for the handler 30 minutes later in the open race under Karen Ferris following an absence of over 500 days.
The odds-on favourite Sizing Titanium made the running at a steady pace and with some notable mistakes not aiding the favourites cause, Horendus Hulabaloo hit the front before the home straight and ran out a four-length winner.
Christie remarked: “We thought he would need the run but it was a very ordinary race. It’s encouraging to see him coming back as we have had to be patient with him. He will keep pointing.”
NEWS
First winner
SHANE Hassett, a 30-year-old based in Dundrum, County Tipperary, recorded his first winner as a handler courtesy of the Shane Fitzgerald-
ridden gelding Dontgetfooledagain in the concluding older maiden.
The rookie handler has 15-pointers in training and quickly followed up his maiden success, as Kiosk Keith scored at Turtulla on Sunday, also carrying the colours of Shane’s partner Jane Davis, the Equine Brand Manager for Connolly’s Red Mills.
New initiative
THE first four-year-old auction maiden took place at Kirkistown last Saturday and produced a very impressive winner in Heartbreak Kid. The initiative was announced by the Stewards of the INHS Committee in November, to introduce a series of auction races for four-year-old maidens specifically designed for horses that were bought or sold at public auction for €25,000 or less.
With only four of these races scheduled to take place, the next race is at the Brosna Hunt Point-to-point at Durrow on Saturday 23rd March.
Ferris win
A visibly delighted Karen Ferris recorded her first point-to-point success for almost five years when steering David Christie’s Horendus Hulabaloo to victory in the open race.
The winning handler commented: “I am over the moon for Karen. She’s a great girl and rides out for me three mornings a week.”
From Dundrod in County Antrim, Karen has partnered two winners on the track most recently last August on Lusis Naturea and was recording her fifth success between the flags.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
CUFF PARADE (B.R. Hamilton): This good-looking son of Gold Well finished third on his debut at Tattersalls behind subsequent bumper winner Chantry House. He was still traveling well when falling three-out and his maiden success seems likely in the near future.