THE diminutive Ainippe claimed a precious first pattern race success as she came late under Colin Keane to deny Newsletter in the Group 3 TRM Ballyogan Stakes.
The Ger Lyons-trained daughter of Captain Rio came into this off a strong finishing second to Toscanini at Navan last month.
That effort saw her returned the 9/4 joint favourite with Newsletter who looked to have made a decisive maneouvre when keeping Ainippe in a pocket behind the leading pair a quarter of a mile from home.
Ainippe only got into the clear with a furlong to run and had ground to make up on Newsletter but she came home strongly to strike the front in the closing stages.
The Qatar Racing-owned daughter of Captain Rio finished half a length in front of Newsletter with supplementary entry Steip Amach taking third in a race that was relocated from Leopardstown to the Curragh.
“She would have been an unlucky loser. She’s not the biggest but she’s all heart,” said Lyons. “She has plenty of speed and loves good ground although I don’t think she’s good enough for the Commonwealth Cup.
“The plan with her was to win a Group 3 with her this season so we’ll sit down and make a plan after this.”
The reliable Postulation took his form to a new level and made his first venture into listed company a winning one as he turned over Parish Hall in the TRI Equestrian Silver Stakes.
On ratings, the Khalid Abdullah-owned gelding had plenty to find but he responded well to Pat Smullen’s promptings to chase down Parish Hall heading into the last furlong.
Inside the last 50 yards a willing Postulation edged ahead of the market leader who tried to bite him as they hit the line.
“The tactics worked and Pat switched him off nicely. It was ambitious to come here but we thought we’d give it a crack and he’d a good run at Cork early in the season when he was second to Success Days,” stated Weld. “He’s been running consistently and we’ll look for another listed race with him. We may also look at travelling him.”
Smullen then brought up a double as Duca Valentinois (9/2) followed up last month’s course and distance triumph in the 10-furlong www.trm-ireland.com Handicap.
The Oaktree Racing Club-owned three-year-old was 4lb higher for that recent win but still confirmed form with the five horses that reopposed him. The Holy Roman Emperor gelding took over the lead inside the distance and just held off the strong finishing Pullman Brown.
“He’s progressing all the time,” declared Murtagh. “He put his head down and tried hard and Pat said he could come back a furlong in trip rather than go another one. We are thinking of a premier handicap and the syndicate would like a day out in Galway so he might go for the Topaz Mile there.”
Earlier Rockaway Valley (6/4) was an impressive winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over six furlongs. Jessica Harrington’s charge will now tackle the Group 2 Railway Stakes on Derby weekend and that assignment will be well within his grasp on this evidence.
As he looked to build on his debut second to Air Force Blue, the Mill House LLC-owned colt made the running for Shane Foley. When he was asked to quicken up with over a furlong to run he responded in some style to finish four and a quarter lengths clear of the newcomer Juliette Fair.
“He was good. He came on a lot from his first run and he lengthened right away from them when Shane asked him to,” stated Mrs Harrington. “He’s a good actioned horse and good ground is perfect for him. He won’t be going to Ascot and will be back here on Derby weekend.”
Eddie Lynam could have yet another smart sprinter on his hands in Fort Del Oro (7/4) who was far too strong for her opponents in the TRM Excellence In Equine Nutrition Maiden.
The Ballylinch Stud-owned and bred daughter of Lope De Vega was second on her debut over this six furlongs last month and has clearly progressed well in the interim.
Billy Lee sent his strong travelling mount to the front with over a furlong to run and she cruised to a four and a quarter lengths triumph over the 76-rated Creggs Pipes.
“We like her. We’ll see what sort of mark she gets now and that will tell us where to go. She could be good,” declared Lynam.
In addition to landing the day’s feature Ger Lyons, Colin Keane and Qatar Racing enjoyed a double as the 86-rated Game Set Dash (9/2) dug deep in the TRM Invest In Calphorim Maiden.
A huge upset was on the cards entering the last furlong as the 111-rated hurdler Here For The Craic looked to be keeping his rivals at bay. However, Game Set Dash found a way past late on to succeed by half a length.
“He wants all of a mile and a half and even a bit further and I was worried they had gone a bit steady,” remarked Lyons. “I always thought that he could be a stakes horse although he needs to improve on this form if he’s going to be that level. You can see by the size of him that he can only get better and he won’t be anything until he’s four.”
Bainne (7/1) got off the mark on her second start for Michael O’Callaghan in the six furlongs TRM Supporting Global Champions Handicap.
The five-year-old, who won three times for Charlie Swan in 2013 before a fruitless spell in Britan, looked as if she might struggle to get a run heading into the last quarter of a mile.
Shane Kelly deftly guided her through the pack though and when she got into the clear she picked up well to seize control late on, defeating Battleroftheboyne by two lengths.
“She got a great ride from Shane and he did very well to win on her,” reflected O’Callaghan who trains the winner for Noel Hayes. “She’s a nice, fun filly for those sprint handicaps through the summer. She came to us around February time and she’s done well since we got her.”