FOR the second time in a month, the long reach of the Gordon Elliott yard was felt amongst the country’s juvenile ranks as the promising Monkeylou made a successful debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Following on from the victory of Beckford at the Curragh last month, a bold showing was clearly expected from Monkeylou who was the 5/4 favourite for this extended six-furlong contest. Elliott’s fourth juvenile two-year-old runner of the season, who is among seven horses he has for the Nick Bradley Racing Club, also made plenty of appeal on pedigree as a half-brother to the Group 2 scorer Always Hopeful.
Monkeylou was perhaps a shade keen for Pat Smullen but he was able to slot into a nice position in behind the leaders. After putting himself into a challenging position with over a furlong to run, Monkeylou picked up strongly to surge clear inside the distance, finishing two and three-quarter lengths clear of Drombeg Dawn.
“He’s a lovely horse and the lads were confident beforehand – his work had been good,” reported Smullen. “It’s a bit of an ask to win around here first time out and he’s shown he’s a decent horse. He hit the furlong pole strong and his last furlong was his strongest.”
Smullen then followed up on Bill Farrell’s Orangey Red in the extended six-furlong handicap. A €9,000 purchase at Goffs last November, the Ringfort Stud-owned four-year-old was the 7/1 outsider of the six-runner field as she looked to add to the two wins she recorded for Dermot Weld last season.
Orangey Red made her challenge between the pace-setting pair of Geological and Patuano inside the last furlong and she defeated the last named by three-quarters of a length.
“She’s a nice filly who we knew from Moyglare and it’s nice to ride a winner for my neighbour Derek Veitch (Ringfort Stud),” declared Smullen. “She had her ideal conditions today. It was a small field, the gallop wasn’t too strong and the track is in absolutely great nick.”
KENNY VICTORY
It was a day to savour for jockey Karen Kenny who notched up her first victory since July 2010 as Hard Times landed in front on the line in the first division of the 45-65 rated handicap. On his first start since November, the 33/1 chance denied Initially in the final stride to give owner/trainer Flan Costello his first winner since August 2014.
“I’m just so thankful to Flan who has supported me since I went down to him about a year ago. He’s given me a lot of support and confidence and I can’t thank him enough,” reported the successful jockey, who accompanied Gordon Lord Byron to Dubai during the winter.
The promising Elusive Duchess (33/1) provided Adrian Keatley with his first winner of the season when she made her debut in the Croom House Stud Irish EBF Fillies Maiden. Gary Carroll bided his time off quite a strong pace and, as the early tempo took its toll in the straight, the Tom Bennett-owned and bred Elusive Duchess surged into contention. It wasn’t long before the grey held the lead and she soon moved clear before a convincing three-length triumph.
The odds-on New Terms had work to do when she did well to survive a stumble with over a furlong to run, which meant that she finished down the field.
After finishing third to Elusive Duchess, the John Joe Walsh-trained Tjukurrpa had her official rating revised from 27 to 66 – a 39lb hike.
“She’s a nice filly and will be even better next year,” reported Keatley of the winner. “Tom, who bred her, has done a great job with her and hopefully she’ll be a filly that could win something nice at some stage.”
Michael Halford’s Moritzburg, who was good enough to reach the frame in last season’s Rochestown Stakes, outclassed his rivals in the colts and geldings maiden over a mile. The Godolphin-owned runner made all the running for Shane Foley and the pair had their rivals beaten off from early in the straight. At the line, the 7/4 favourite had seven lengths to spare.
“He was entitled to do that on his form and rating and this is a good front-runner’s track so we kept it simple,” declared Halford. “He’s a scopey horse who is over a few issues that were troubling him last and this will do his confidence a lot of good.”
The betting suggested that the seven-furlong George Fitzmaurice Handicap was a reasonably open affair but A Little Bit Me (11/2) annihilated her rivals. The Fozzy Stack-trained daughter of The Factor won a Cork sprint last month and put her dash to good use by going straight into the lead from her low draw.
In the straight, the Tom Magnier-owned filly proceeded to stretch further and further clear of her rivals to finish some nine lengths clear of Comhghairdeas.
“She ran over five furlongs the last and was probably on her head a little so the step up in trip suited her. She made the most of her draw and we’ll just see what the handicapper does to her now,” commented Stack.
It has already been a fine season for apprentice Dylan Hogan and he notched up another triumph on Lightening Stricks in the 45-65 rated handicap. The 10-year-old, who was trainer Liam Roche’s last winner when he struck at Killarney 13 months ago, hadn’t run since October but was backed from 14/1 into 10/1.
Lightening Stricks was another to benefit from sticking close to the pace and he kept on well over the last couple of furlongs to defeat the well-backed Sleepy Head by two lengths. Roche trains the winner for his wife, Sally.
As expected Tirmizi was an utterly facile winner of the four-runner Bryan MacMahon (Q.R.) Race.
The 96-rated four-year-old, who had been restricted to just two runs since making a winning debut as a juvenile, faced the most straightforward of tasks, which was reflected in his starting price of 1/6. Finny Maguire made most of the running on the Aga Khan-owned runner who was unextended to finish 17 lengths ahead of Jack Blue.
ACTING STEWARDS
M. McMahon, M. Doyle, S. McDonogh, O. Kearney, S. Quinn
Horse To Follow
SLEEPY HEAD (P.J. Flynn): On her second handicap outing she ran well to chase home Lightening Stricks and she is open to further progress after just five runs.