Michael Duggan
KLASSY bounced back to winning ways when making all the running under Derek O’Connor to land the Galway Race Committee open lightweight at last Sunday’s well-attended Blazers meeting at Athenry.
Sent off the 6/4 favourite, Klassy, who is trained in Co Tipperary by Sam Curling for his artist dad, Peter, hadn’t been seen since finishing second to Becasueicouldntsee at Loughrea last October but he made every post a winning one when staying on powerfully to beat Muredach Kelly’s Grianan Fidh by 15 lengths.
Curling wasn’t present, but the winning rider commented: “Conditions today really suited this horse as he likes a bit of nice ground and the tight track was also right up his street. He gave me an armchair spin and jumped and travelled all the way. I was always confident of winning.”
O’Connor went on to complete a double half an hour later aboard his brother Paurick’s What Happens Now (6/4 favourite) in the Ms Leah Hegarty Clark M.H. ‘Cathal O’Malley Memorial’ winners of two contest.
Beaten a neck at Cragmore five weeks earlier, this son of Dr Massini, who was bred by his owner John Riordan from Co Limerick, made no mistake this time round when running on strongly in the closing stages to defeat runner-up Keep Back by a length and a half.
“This is a decent horse and was entitled to win today,” revealed the victorious trainer. “I’m thrilled for the owner as he has been with me for a long time and is very loyal. There is more improvement to come from this fellow and we’ll go for another winners’ race with him over the next few weeks.”
PURPLE PATCH
Clare jockey Paul O’Neill has hit a real purple patch of late and the talented Quin amateur was seen at his best when guiding Donnchadh Doyle’s Soupy Soups (3/1-6/1) to victory in the opening Goffs four-year-old maiden.
Pat Doyle’s 1/2 favourite Bacardys fell when in front with six to jump here paving the way for Soupy Soups who answered every call from O’Neill on the run-in to beat Shambougg by half a length.
Doyle, who completed an across-the-card treble having saddled two winners at the Borris House fixture, was absent, with O’Neill commenting: “This is a lovely horse. He travelled and jumped throughout the race and quickened well at the death when he had to. He was a promising fourth on his debut at Maralin and that experience made a huge difference today.”
Denis Murphy, who had to settle for the runner-up berth in the opener with Shambougg, had better luck in the four-runner Emily Stanley five and six-year-old geldings’ maiden where his Jimmy O’Rourke-ridden Inchiquin All Star justified even-money favouritism in good style.
Always prominent, this son of Definite Article drew clear from two out to beat Ronnie O’Leary’s Listen Here by 20 lengths.
“This fellow was unlucky his first two runs and then I went and ran him on soft ground twice after that which was my mistake,” divulged Blackwater, Co Wexford-based Murphy. “He is a nice horse and is owned jointly by my partner Maria Byrne and his breeder Sean Harnedy who is not here as he is watching his son Seamus playing hurling for Cork against Tipperary. He’s a nice horse with a strong pedigree and will probably be sold now.”
BOOKMAKERS’ RESULT
Bookmakers got a result in the Tattersalls Ireland five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden where the 8/1 outsider Glendaars Lady scored under a canny ride from Kildare jockey Barry Browne.
Coming from well off the pace, this daughter of Definite Article, who is trained at Enniscrone in County Sligo by Michael E. Hallinan for Kildare owner-breeder Frank Reynolds, quickened up nicely on the run-in to defeat Robert Tyner’s newcomer Quill Street by a neck.
“I’m very pleased this mare has won and the good ground was a big help,” said Hallinan. “I am nearing the veteran stage now but I ride this mare out every morning and she is the only one we have in training. Barry gave her a super ride and we’ll have a crack at a mares’ winners’ race next.”
Nine went to post in the concluding Western Eco & Electrical Systems Ltd & Kevin Burke Tyres five-year-old and upwards adjacent hunts maiden where victory went to the Paul Cawley-ridden Froggy (4/1-9/4F).
Trained by his brother Brian for his uncle Christy Moran at nearby Craughwell, Froggy had finished third at Belclare the previous Sunday, but showed no ill-effects for that effort when running on strongly to deny Paul Gilligan’s Celtique Beau by half a length.
“This fellow wasn’t winning out of turn as he’s been very consistent,” said the winning trainer who is currently a conditional rider. “Paul gave him a brilliant ride and I’m delighted he’s won. We’ll freshen him up now as he’s had two quick runs and make a plan as to where we’ll go next.”
Browne thrilled
JOCKEY Barry Browne was thrilled following his success aboard outsider Glendaars Lady in the mares’ maiden. “I only got the phone call to ride her last night and things worked out great,” said the Kildare-born amateur.
“I rode three winners as a conditional when attached to the Evan Williams yard in England but I’ve been working for Gordon Elliott for the last two and a half years. I love it there as I’m learning all the time. Today’s win was my second of the season, it’s hard to get rides now as the horse population is down and it’s very, very competitive,” added the 24-year-old Donadea native.
Improving horse
CO Limerick owner-breeder John Riordan was more than pleased with the winning display of his Paurick O’Connor-trained What Happens Now.
“That was great and this horse is improving all the time,” said the Bruree dairy farmer. “Paurick is a very good trainer and he won with the only other horse I’ve had with him, Mills Melody, as well. It’s a huge bonus having Derek (O’Connor) riding them too as he’s just top class. I leave all the decisions as to where they run to Paurick and I’m very happy to do that.”