GARY Carroll initiated a double at Fairyhouse when Fiery Lucy confirmed the promise of her debut second at Cork last month by going one better in the opening six-furlong Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.
The 11/10 favourite was prominent throughout and after being ridden to head Lethimfly over 150 yards out, kept on well to beat that rival by two and a quarter lengths.
“It was a very good run the first day and I hoped that she could do that today. She won well and Gary thought that she might get further in time,” said Gavin Cromwell who trains the filly for the Dunphy Family Syndicate.
“She was quite professional and loved that top of the ground.”
Carroll followed up aboard Aurora Nova in the Fairyhouse Handicap where the Holy Roman Emperor filly, trained by Andy McNamara for his wife Rhona, showed a smart turn of foot when switched to the outer under two furlongs out and she kept on well in the closing stages to beat the front-running Eruption by two and a half lengths.
“She’s a very tough, genuine filly but makes life hard for herself. She is generally slow out of the stalls but wasn’t too bad today.
“She was unlucky the last day as she was coming with a run and the gap closed,” said McNamara afterwards of the 9/2 winner.
FAIR Taxes continued a good run for trainer Ross O’Sullivan when making most to record a 20/1 surprise in the Soil.ie Sobac Healthy Grass Handicap. The lightly raced son of Exceed And Excel asserted under Donagh O’Connor to go three lengths clear over a furlong out before holding on by a diminishing neck from Grand City Hall.
“His work has always been good, he’s quick, but first time in a handicap you’d think there would be a few wiser than him,” said O’Sullivan who trains the gelding for the McCreevy family. “He’s sharp away and on a straight track you would probably go back to five but around a bend he’s okay at six.”
Repeating wins
The other six-furlong handicap went to Universally who repeated a course and distance success from last autumn when coming from last to first in the straight to take the Maher Tractor Sales Handicap.
The grey son of Acclamation really got motoring from over a furlong out under Niall McCullagh, leading in the final 100 yards to beat Tawaazon by a length. “He seems to enjoy it here and enjoys coming through horses. That’s the way he won here last year as well,” said Eoghan O’Neill, who trains the 13/2 winner for the Toogood Racing Partnership.
Showing appreciation
Sixpack appreciated the step up to a mile and six when following up a win at Roscommon last month by taking the Soil Ireland Turf Management Handicap. Out On Friday ensured this was a real stamina test and built up a lead of 12 lengths by halfway, but the Shane Kelly-ridden 7/2 favourite reeled him in about a furlong out before going on to score by three-quarters of a length from fast-finishing The Names Jock.
“I thought stepping up in trip might bring about a bit more improvement and Shane did a good job on him. It was a true run race and he hit the line well. They (Any Excuse For A Holiday) are an Australian syndicate that are with me a while and are very lucky,” said winning trainer Johnny Murtagh before adding: “There are a few staying races at the Curragh on Derby weekend, and he could be a horse for Galway. He might get up the hill in Galway.”
FAVOURITE backers were also rewarded in the Racing Again At Fairyhouse July 10th Handicap where Lady Christa (5/2) made most and took control early in the straight to beat L’un Deux Trois by five lengths despite drifting left inside the final furlong.
“She should have been a winner before this as she was unlucky in Navan last year when she was hampered by a loose horse. Keithen (Kennedy) has her well worked out and he gave her a lovely ride,” said winning trainer Sheila Lavery. “I’m delighted for the owners, David Llewelyn and John Runeckles, as they have been very patient. David is based in Singapore and John is in the UK. They have a few horses with me but have never seen them run live.”
Maiden win
James Ryan rode his first winner for Dermot Weld when Brosna Town (9/1), owned in partnership by Timothy Murphy and Leslie Young, got the better of a protracted battle with Sundance Sioux by a neck in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
“Mr Weld said this galloping track would suit him a lot better and he got into a lovely rhythm. The second horse got me racing a bit earlier than I wanted to, but in fairness my lad put his head down and galloped all the way through the line,” said the 5lb-claiming apprentice.
Stewards’ inquiry
The absence of odds-on morning favourite Janoobi due to the going gave the four-runner Pat’s Carpets Race a more open look and Booyea took full advantage when leading a furlong out and edging right in the closing stages to beat Gleneagle Bay by a length and a quarter. The places remained unaltered following a stewards’ inquiry, but winning rider Robert Whearty was given a two-day ban for careless riding.
“I was very keen to run before we went to the Curragh on Derby weekend and the plan was to go to Limerick last week, but he had a bit of an issue and couldn’t run. We are thinking of running over a mile at the Curragh, so I said we could give him a bit of a sharpener here and see how that goes. We’re surprised and delighted,” said Tom Gibney who trains the 9/2 shot for the Ballinlough Syndicate.