IT was a red-letter day in Down Royal for Alexandra Egan who rode her first winner aboard Evening’s Empire for Eddie and Patrick Harty.
Egan, a sister of jockey David Egan, partnered the 16/1 shot in the GAIN The Advantage Series Apprentice Handicap and held her up in the early stages. The duo made headway to lead after two furlongs and just fended off Vidisha by a short-head after a thrilling finish.
Egan said: “I’m learning loads from him (brother) – he texted me before the race. He’s home tonight, so he is going to go through it with me again I’m sure.
“I’m delighted and I wish my granddad (Dessie Hughes) was here – he’s looking down on all of us I suppose. For a second I didn’t think I’d held on and then I saw all the stalls handlers cheering and I knew I got it!”
The winner obliged for owners Fearghal and Bronagh Eastwood.
Magical victory
Charles O’Brien’s Wizard Of Odds showed his mettle in landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden for juveniles, and gave freshman sire Arizona his first winner.
The 3/1 shot made progress under Shane Foley to lead a quarter of a mile out and had to withstand the closing efforts of King Thistle and Heishybrid.
He saw off Kings Thistle by a length with Heishybrid a further three-quarters of a length away in third.
Foley, sporting owner Ross Barrett’s colours, said: “I sat on him before he even ran and a fine, big horse. He’s probably gone a little shade weak now being honest, but I think he’s a nice horse in time.
“He just got lost in Listowel and didn’t handle the track at all and, in fairness, he came home well (in fifth) - I didn’t knock him about.”
Holding on
Prominent-racer Masoun (3/1) held on by a neck at the end of an extended mile and a quarter in the Harvertech Handicap for Johnny Murtagh.
Apercu, the 2/1 favourite, came at him late but was unable to reel him in. Aird was a further neck away in third in a head-bobbing finish.
Ben Coen, in the H H Aga Khan silks, said: “I was kind of caught out on the wing so I let him roll forward. He dug it out well. He does (stay) and I think in time he might get a little bit further.”
ORIGAMI finished well to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over the flying five furlongs.
The 8/1 shot switched out a furlong and a half out and ran on strongly to lead close home. He beat Tommy McJohn by half a length for Joseph O’Brien and owner Justin Edward Casse.
Jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle said: “She jumped, travelled and I was happy to get a lead. We probably went (a good pace) for the first one or two furlongs and then we steadied it a little bit. Once I angled out, she quickened up really well and was well on top at the line.
“Yes (improved from first day), and she obviously has got a tongue-tie on today and it has definitely improved her plenty.”
Dead-heat
Katy Brown’s Reinforce and Tom McCourt’s Hero Of The Hour dead-heated in the Proparamedics Handicap over five furlongs.
The pair disputed the lead in the closing stages of this dash and the judge was unable to separate them in the photograph.
Reinforce went off 9/2 favourite and was ridden by Ronan Whelan for the Orchard Garden Syndicate while James Ryan was in the plate on Hero Of The Hour (10/1) for owner David Hoey.
Brown was leading up Reinforce, while McCourt said of Hero Of The Hour: “His form seemed to be at six and seven (furlongs) and we said we would run him in Bellewstown and see how we got on (third on stable debut over an extended five furlongs).
“I think he has to have a proper pace to go at. He definitely has ability and is a lovely horse. He won for George (Kingston) in Dundalk and had a good run of it there. He is back down to a nice mark again and he’ll go back to Dundalk again.”
GORDON Elliott’s New Year Honours put in a stout-staying effort in the RiverRidge Royale Fillies Handicap over a mile and five furlongs.
The five-year-old mare, who was pulled up in her last couple of handicap hurdles, enjoyed herself as she began to move into contention for Keithen Kennedy at the two pole.
Kennedy rode her to the front inside the final furlong and she set sail by three and a quarter lengths at 13/2 for owner Ray Stokes.
“They went a nice, good gallop and she relaxed in behind for me lovely. Picked them off nicely when I asked her to. She’s a nice mare,” Kennedy said.
Scorching success
Gavin Cromwell’s Empress Alma scorched her rivals in the Freixenet Handicap over a mile and five furlongs.
She is in a good place at the minute as she built upon a victory in Naas earlier in the month.
The 11/2 chance was patiently ridden by Gary Carroll and came through to lead a furlong out. She soon moved clear and passed the line five and a half lengths in front of Highland Bells for owners E Hughes, Carmel Yore, Darren Cahill and Kiva Cromwell.
Carroll said: “She is bred to go that sort of trip. To be honest, I think the race fell apart and we went very fast. I think they stopped in front of me and she stayed going.
“She’s a nice filly, a bit of size and stays the trip so hopefully in time she will improve again.”