TOM Mullins once again showed why his occasional two-year-old runners warrant the utmost attention as his Morning Soldier got off the mark at the second attempt in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
This Helen Mullins-owned son of The Gurkha finished down the field on his debut at Naas and, while he was returned at 33/1 this time, he did not go ignored in the betting and duly vindicated those that supported him at 66/1.
After taking up a prominent position, Billy Lee’s mount led well over a furlong out and he stuck to his task doggedly to fend off the odds on newcomer Trent by three-parts of a length.
“He learnt a bit from Naas. We do like him and were hoping for a better run first time. I’d say he enjoyed the better ground and the step up to seven furlongs and I’m not surprised he was able to win,” declared Mullins.
Billy Lee was earlier successful on John McConnell’s Zahee in the 45-70 rated handicap over a mile where a significant gamble on Chazzesmee (22/1 - 11/4) went awry when he pulled up injured after going a furlong.
Course success
The victorious six-year-old, who is owned by the 119 Partnership, was recording his second course success of the season as he handed out a length-and-a-quarter beating to Brosna Empress having cruised into contention early in the straight.
John McConnell then brought up a double of his own when Rita Levi (14/1) secured the second divide of the 45-65 rated mile-and-a-half handicap.
Seamie Heffernan’s mount can sometimes compromise her chances with a slow start but she broke on terms this time and raced close to the pace before eventually getting home by a head from the favourite, Shamiyan.
The winner carries the colours of the Only Fools Love Horses Syndicate and was showing remarkable versatility in scoring over this trip having been placed over the five furlongs several times as a juvenile.
THE training performance of the night came from David Broad who produced Turf Range (16/1) from a year off to take the first division of the 45-65 rated mile-and-a-half handicap. When he was last in action this five-year-old won a similar event at this track and he was produced in great shape to defy an 11lb-higher mark.
Wayne Lordan conjured a willing effort from his partner, who denied the hat-trick seeking No Trouble by a short-head.
The front pair did get close together but the resulting stewards’ enquiry made no change to the result. The Mulligan’s winner will be returning to Dundalk through the winter months.
Andy Slattery senior and junior combined for their second winner together in as many days as Special Power (5/4) took the six-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden to break a sequence that had seen him fill the runner-up spot on his last five outings.
Got on top
The ultra-reliable son of Slade Power, who is owned by his breeder Otto Kueres, got on top heading towards the furlong pole and he reached the line with a length and a quarter to spare over El Magnifique. The winner could take his chance in the Birdcatcher Nursery at Naas on Sunday.
Drombeg Duke, who picked up a stone hike in the weights for scoring at Listowel last month, added to his tally in the first divide of the 45-65 rated seven-furlong handicap. Gavin Ryan was once again on board Eoin McCarthy’s charge who got the better of the front running Capla Knight to prevail by a neck.
The Cian and Philip McAuliffe-owned five-year-old is expected to return to Dundalk in the coming weeks.
IT has been a good autumn for several new apprentice talents and two of them, Jake Coen and Daniel King, were on the mark at this fixture.
Daniel King partnered his third winner when Timourid (28/1) won the mile claimer as he got back to the form that carried him to a Clonmel maiden triumph last month.
The Galway Girl Syndicate-owned gelding was some way below his best in three runs since Clonmel but came right back to form as he registered an easy three-and-a-half-length victory.
James McAuley claimed the winner for €13,000, while Shark Hanlon secured the beaten favourite, Leadership Race, (finished eighth) for €5,000.
Jake Coen, who rode his first winner in late August, is now on the six-winner mark for the season after he teamed up with Pat Flynn’s Accessory in the second division of the 45-65 rated seven-furlong handicap.
The Epaulette gelding was returned at 7/1 to add to his victory at Cork last month and he got the better of Ampeson by half a length.