THE feature race at Killarney on Friday evening, the Kellihers Toyota Kingdom Gold Cup Handicap, went for export as Prydwen landed the prize for British trainer George Scott.
Sent off 12/1, the Blue Starr Racing & Keith Breen-owned gelding stayed on strongly under Wayne Hassett to win by two and three-quarter lengths.
Winning trainer Scott reported: “It was my first runner in Ireland but one of his part-owners Keith Breen is an Irishman and has a house in Cork, so has been pestering me to have a runner.
“The lads came over with the horse a couple of days ago and did a great job, as he is a nervous horse so settling into life here has helped him.
I thought the easy ground was a negative but it worked really well for him. The owners are great supporters of mine so to give something back is important and he is a special horse.”
Quick
One Look produced a smart turn of foot inside the final furlong to land the Listed Irish Stallion Farms Irish EBF Vincent O’Brien Ruby Stakes.
The Paddy Twomey-trained 13/8 favourite led close home under Billy Lee to beat Princess Child a length. Twomey later said of the Connolly Racing Syndicate-owned winner: “I think she likes confusion; it was the same in Gowran and also in the Goffs Million but seems to like coming through horses and has the class to do that.
“It was a wet, cold spring and some of these fillies can take a bit of time. She is a nice filly, is a stakes winner now and you’d imagine going to the Denny Cordell Lavarack Stakes in Gowran next month could be next.”
THE Noel Meade-trained Monasterboice made all the running under Colin Keane to win the Tote.ie Rated Race. Carrying the well-known colours of owner Mrs Patricia Hunt, the 3/1 chance stayed on strongly inside the final furlong to beat Four Blondes by half a length.
The winner briefly became upset in the stalls, had to be taken back out and reloaded. Colin Keane reported: “The final horse to load was being a bit difficult to go in and he (Monasterboice) became impatient and was getting uneasy. We took him out and he was sound so we were happy to run.”
He added “Since he won here the first day, he seems to have got a new lease of life. We used to take our time with him, since we started making the running he is inclined not to let horses get by him, which is a brilliant thing. He appreciates an ease in the ground and come to this time of year, he’ll get plenty of that.”
Double opener
Wayne Hassett, who also won the feature race on the card, had earlier been on the mark aboard Spring Collection in Division l of the Gain The Advantage Series Handicap.
Trained by David Harry Kelly, the 13/2 chance led over a furlong out before going clear for a two-and-a-quarter-length win in the colours of Ms Gemma O’Mahoney.
The winning rider said: “She is in foal and was running out of time, as this was her last run - she probably knew it herself! Being her last run, I got her up with the pace which she loved and did it in style. At Cork the ground was too quick but she loved it here.”
Trainer Paul Flynn continued what has been an excellent season when his Nibras Rainbow landed Division 2 of the Gain The Advantage Series Handicap. The 11/1 chance led narrowly under Leigh Roche over a furlong out before staying on strongly to beat Shoot To Kill by half a length.
Flynn later commented on the Mind Your Own Business Syndicate-owned winner: “I didn’t know what to do with him but felt I should stick to what he did in England and while you could easily say he was ungenuine with his head coming up, I had his wind done.
“It took a run to get him back (after surgery) and he is coping with that softer ground now. We’ll keep going and will go to Listowel.”
SUNRISEONTHEBOYNE stayed on best close home to win the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery Handicap under Wesley Joyce. Owned and trained by Michael Mulvany, the 7/1 chance headed long time leader The Marty Party to win by half a length.
Mulvany, who was sending out a first winner at Killarney, later said: “He was 4lb out of the handicap but we had to take our chances as he is probably crying out for that distance. Wesley gave him a great ride.
“He’d have preferred better ground but this is Ireland, you have to make the best of the ground you have. We’ll keep going in handicaps now.”
Justified
Jabbar justified 2/1 favouritism in the Brehon Hotel And Spa Apprentice Handicap when staying on well under Keithen Kennedy to win by two and a half lengths.
Trainer Ger O’Leary said of the Lance Bloodstock Limited-owned winner: “The horses are in form, we brought down three today and this was the lad I was expecting to win. I don’t think he was fully tuned up as he is having a proper blow so there might be another day in him hopefully.”
Veteran wins
Former Cheltenham Festival winner Seddon made all the running under Harry Swan to take the concluding Tote, Never Beaten By SP (Q.R.) Race. Sent off 4/1, the Galaxy Horse Racing Syndicate-owned gelding won by three-quarters of a length.
Swan later said of the John McConnell-trained veteran: “He feels very very good, feels more like a six-year-old than 11 and is in great nick.
“He ran in this last year but travelled better in it this year and even a horse coming up beside me helped as he quickened on again. He is a competitive horse and there is definitely plenty more left in the locker.”