AN unprecedented run of success for Adrian McGuinness reached a new high last Friday week as he struck big race gold at Qatar before reeling off a double here which took in a pleasing success for the promising Thrumps Dream.
The Susan Barton-owned daughter of Dark Angel made a bright start to her career when finishing second to Lovely Esteem here last month and she looked all the better for that in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile.
Thrumps Dream (100/30) was well placed to challenge for Chris Hayes as the last furlong loomed and she took charge in likeable fashion over the course of the last 150 yards to defeat Burgoo Alley by a length and a quarter. It made it 17 winners for the winter season pace-setter Chris Hayes who led title rival Declan McDonogh by one heading into the fixture.
“We were a bit concerned about the draw (stall 14) but she ran such a nice race behind one of Joseph’s here the last night and was professional for her first run. She could compete in stakes’ company during the summer,” reported the trainer’s assistant Stephen Thorne.
McGuinness was earlier successful with Betrayed, jointly owned by his wife Hazel and Gary Devlin, in the three-year-old handicap over six furlongs. Colin Keane kept close to the pace on this son of Lethal Force who got on top in the closing stages to see off the front-running Stribling by half a length. The 9/2 chance was building on a second to Harry’s Hill here last month.
Useful Grandmaster
Lingfield’s All Weather Final day is an option for the useful 93-rated Grandmaster Flash who dominated the two-mile conditions race. A week on from a respectable third to Tartlette over a mile-and-a-quarter, the LECH Racing Limited-owned five-year-old relished the return to this distance.
The 7/4 favourite regained the lead for Dylan Browne McMonagle inside the final half mile, pressed on for home early in the straight and stayed on strongly to dish out a five-length beating to Sneaky Getaway.
“He’s only won one before today but he always run well and enjoys it around here. Joseph might think of bringing him to Lingfield for the two-mile race and there could be a decent staying handicap in him,” remarked Brendan Powell.
THE Polytrack great Togoville (9/2) broke new ground for the second week in succession as the admirable grey took his tally at Dundalk to 13 wins in the 45-70 rated seven-furlong handicap.
After staging a resurgence to score over this trip seven days previously, the Conor McGovern-ridden Togoville bossed this race from the front at all stages. Anthony McCann’s charge set a tempo to suit himself and powered away from his rivals over the last furlong and a half.
At the line the Patrick McCann-owned 11-year-old had a resounding four and a quarter lengths to spare.
“We were in two minds whether to retire him this week but we took him to the beach on Sunday morning and couldn’t hold him so I said to the owner we should give him another go,” stated the trainer. “He could be back here for the Winter Series Awards Day in April and when Dundalk is over this season he will definitely be retired.”
Smooth Chateau
John Geoghegan has been enjoying a great time of things here with Chateau Musar and he added to his haul when Silk Cravat (9/1) bagged the second division of the 45-65 rated handicap over a mile. The experienced eight-year-old, who is owned by the trainer’s brother Brian, got to the front quite snugly for Paddy Harnett and he reached the line three-quarters of a length in front of the strong finishing Darkest Hour.
A productive few months for the Paddy Hassett-owned and trained Maggie Thunder continued as she bagged her second Polytrack win in the five-furlong handicap. Off a 15lb higher mark than when scoring here in late October, the Declan McDonogh-ridden 7/2 favourite came with a strong run to lead and she just held off Misterio who was a first racecourse ride for apprentice Wesley Joyce.
A GOOD evening for Danny Sheehy yielded two winners and the first of these came courtesy of Charles O’Brien whose useful inmate Big Gossey (10/1) in the decent looking six-furlong handicap.
The Allegro Syndicate-owned son of Gutaifan was being niggled along shortly after halfway but responded well to gradually close down the leader and he took charge in likeable fashion over the last furlong to finish a length and a quarter ahead of the staying-on dead-heaters Wonder Elzaam and Fastman.
Sheehy later struck aboard Pat Martin’s Neyland in the first division of the 45-65 rated mile handicap. The patiently ridden six-year-old, who was notching up her second winter season success, had it all to do early in the straight but Sheehy had judged things to perfection and Neyland arrived in front on the line to edge out Burning Lake. The 7/2 chance is owned by Joan Brennan.