BARRY Stone enjoyed a successful outing in Durrow for the Streamstown Harriers point-to-point as he recorded a fine double to bring him to the eight-winner mark for the season so far.
The double was initiated in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden as Gillespie Road (2/1 - evens favoruite), a €14,000 purchase at Tattersalls, justified favouritism to land the opener for handler Paul Power and owner Francis Connolly.
A race which produced the talented Dublin Racing Festival winner Jeroboam Machin last season, the El Salvador newcomer was patiently ridden throughout and smuggled into the race on the run to two out.
Despite showing plenty of greenness throughout and a significant mistake two out, he produced a sharp turn of foot to come alongside the long-time leader Three Zambezi’s in the straight and go to score by a length.
“He’s very quick over a fence,” Power said. “He was making ground at every fence. From day one he’s been so easy, he’s the best four-year-old I’ve ever had. I was confident coming here today he would win”.
One better
The double for Stone was sealed in the five-year-old mares’ maiden as Nellies Magic (6/4 - 7/4) went one better than her outing in Comea last month to land the spoils for handler John Walsh and owner Michael Rock.
This daughter of Doyen dictated her own fractions from the front in what was a pillar to post success as she ran out a convincing winner.
While her advantage was reduced to some two lengths as they swung the bend for home with two fences remaining, she kicked clear again on the run to the last and stayed on powerfully up the hill to leave her rivals toiling 11 lengths adrift of her.
“The ground the last day was horrific, and we probably let the leader have too much of a run on us but we tried different tactics here today from the front,” Walsh said.
“She will probably go for a winners’ race now and maybe something over the banks, she’s brilliant over them.”
Opened account
Only three runners went to post for the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, and it was the Mick Goff-trained Whispering Dancer who opened his account at the sixth attempt of asking.
Strong in the market and sent off an odds-on favourite (4/6), he edged out Good Cody for the Cormac Doyle yard by half a length.
The decisive move came at the halfway point as Mikey Sweeney sent his mount, a son of Elusive Pimpernel, to the head of affairs, and this was an advantage which he would never relinquish. Despite not cornering well around the home bend and the eventual second almost drawing upsides at the last, the winner always looked to be doing enough in front as he came home half a length clear for owner Catriona Goff.
WITHOUT doubt the finish of the afternoon came in the mares’ winners’ of one contest as the Ian McCarthy-trained Eyes Off Annie (6/4 - 5/4) powered home under a strong Maxine O’Sullivan drive to deny Millie Supreme and Rob James.
Patiently ridden and waited with towards the rear, this Nicki McCarthy-owned daughter of Presenting was a winner at Punchestown last time out and made menacing progress on the run to two out before locking horns in the air at the last with the eventual runner-up.
Despite being heading on the run to the line and dropping half a length back she displayed a tenacious battling quality to get up on the line and score by a head, as the pair pulled some 15 lengths clear of their rivals.
“She’s a nice mare, we haven’t done much with her since the last day, but she’s freshened up well,” McCarthy noted.
Straight forward.
“She’s a filly who doesn’t need much work and she’s very straightforward. Hopefully we might have a few more good days out with her. Maxine rides out for me in the afternoon, so it was nice to give her the spin and that was her first winner.”
Unfortunately, the open contest resulted in a walkover with just one runner, Cash Cut, being declared.
That handed the John Walsh-owned and trained and James Walsh-ridden Arctic Cosmos gelding his second success of the campaign.
“He won well the last day,” the Wicklow handler said. “He doesn’t do much when he hits the front anyway, but we do think a good bit of him.”
EIGHTEEN-year-old Michael Sharpe gained his very first career success in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden aboard the Mary Kilduff-owned Asphalt Cowboy.
The winner looked as if his race was run on the run to two out, as he came under a hard drive and was some eight lengths back in fifth.
Despite this he stuck gamely to the task and finished with a wet sail as he was produced to lead approaching the final fence before running out a comfortable five-length winner over Buster Hall.
Previously in the care of champion handler Colin Bowe, this was the winner’s first outing for his new handler Sonny Carey, who stated: “Michael rode him, he’s been with us since he was 12 or 13, and he’s just turned 18 the other day.
“He’s exceptional he’s one to watch. I bought the horse for Michael to ride and learn off so that’s the plan. He will run as often as he can now just to give Michael experience.”
Talented horseman clearly run in the family as Michael’s great-uncle Willie Burke partnered Santa Claus to success in the National Stakes, Irish Guineas and a four-length Irish Derby win back in 1964.
Horse to Follow
Mr Frawley (P. Stafford): Appeared to be travelling well when falling two out.
Jumping remains a concern though as he parted ways two out on his previous outing in Oldtown. Provided he can get a clear round he will be likely hard to beat next time out.