THE Holycross, Co Tipperary-rider Susie Doyle is enjoying another terrific season and she registered her first double when partnering the final two winners at last Sunday’s meeting at Rathcannon.
On an afternoon which saw a disappointing total of just 30 runners across the six-race card, including two match races, Doyle initiated her brace in the two-runner open lightweight as Gerry Spain’s great servant Some Are Lucky (6/4) maintained the fine form of handler Sam Curling.
Recording his 10th points victory, the recent Lingstown-fourth travelled powerfully throughout under Doyle and asserting in the home straight, readily brushed aside Ifeoinly by 12 lengths.
“He’s a brilliant horse. Gerry was keen to have Susie aboard and she gave the horse a great ride,” said Curling. “He ran over the banks the last day and we might look for another open now before heading on to Punchestown for a banks race.”
Golden double
Doyle extended her advantage at the top of the leading lady rider standings to three winners as the Louise Lyons-trained Golden Bald (6/4 - 5/2) ran out a comfortable winner of the six-year-old and upwards maiden.
Sporting the silks of Nicholas Teehan, the recent Comea-third was always to the fore under Doyle and had got the upper hand on How’s Trix when Pa King’s mount blundered at the last, allowing Golden Bald to stretch his advantage to four lengths at the line.
“I’m over the moon to have my first double,” reflected Doyle. “I’m getting great support from people like Gerry, Sam and Louise. The horse did it very nicely and I’d say he’ll improve plenty from that again as it was only his third run.”
HANDLER Con McSweeney enjoyed a first success of the season as his Katie Dalie (4/1 - 6/1) bounced back to form in a dramatic five- and six-year-old mares’ maiden.
Partnered by Aaron Sinnott, Katie Dalie had luck on her side as the Ray Barron-ridden Milfordfourthree looked to have the eight-runner contest at her mercy on the approach to the final fence, when holding a clear advantage.
Here however, William O’Doherty’s-mare was all but down and although Ray Barron miraculously stayed aboard, the duo forfeited all chance of winning, leaving last January’s Ballyvodock fourth Katie Dalie to capitalise by three and a half-lengths from Super Dawn.
“We were fortunate today, but I suppose you have to take the bit of luck when you get it. The good ground seemed to bring out the best in her. We might aim for the mares’ point-to-point bumper in Cork over Easter now,” observed McSweeney.
Star’s speed
Tomhaggard, Co Wexford-native Tiernan Power also partnered a pair of winners with the Mark Scallan-trained Doyen Star (2/1 - 3/1) kick-starting his double in the four-year-old auction maiden.
A €22,000 graduate of last year’s Goffs Land Rover Sale, the debutant came with a sustained effort from the penultimate fence under Power and making little of the climb to the post, the J Codd Partnership-owned youngster ultimately recorded a two-and-a-half-length success over Idefix De Ciergues.
“This horse has a great cruising speed. He’s always done things very easily for Mark and has the makings of a lovely horse,” said Jess Codd who shares the winner with his father Joe and his brother Joe.
Jack Burke shows marked improvement
TIERNAN Power rode his sixth winner of the current campaign as recent Tyrella sxith Jack Burke (5/2 - 3/1) upstaged the more-fancied Iconic Flame in a match for the five-year-old geldings maiden.
The sweet-jumping Jack Burke, owned and trained by Harley Dunne, was sent to the front from flag fall and given the office on touching down two out by Power, drew clear to beat Pat Doyle’s first-timer Iconic Flame by three lengths.
“This horse is much better than he showed first time out. He blew up a couple of times with me that day and was a bit under the weather after too. He jumped from fence to fence for me and did it well to be fair,” commented Power.
Talented Iorens
Seán Doyle looks to have unearthed another talented sort in the form of Iorens (5/2 - 7/4 favourite) who made a taking winning debut in the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden. The physically imposing Iorens, acquired last year by her handler for €38,000, was moved into the lead by Jamie Scallan on the downhill run to the third from home before going clear after two out to account for Passionate Pursuit by five lengths.
“She’s a real good-moving sort who we fancied strongly today. Jamie loved her there and she has a nice future ahead of her on the track,” remarked Doyle of the close relation to French-blacktype performer Taxe Comprise.
Horse To Follow
Passionate Pursuit (D.P. Murphy) This Champs Elysees filly posted an excellent initial career effort to chase home Iorens in the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden when travelling particularly well into the latter stages of this contest. She can go one better next time.