AT the end of a busy and creditable season Emily Dickinson claimed a precious initial victory at pattern level in the Group 3 Comer International Loughbrown Stakes which provided a neat piece of symmetry to the 2022 Irish flat season.

This two-mile affair was the final pattern race of the domestic campaign and it went to Aidan O’Brien who also landed the first group contest of the season when Mother Earth bagged the Park Express Stakes back in March.

For her part Emily Dickinson came here off a series of honourable runs at the top level, the most recent of which yielded a sixth to Emily Upjohn at Ascot eight days previously.

The step up to two miles was no problem for this daughter of Dubawi and the Irish Oaks winner Chicquita who also looked quite at home as she tackled a field of seasoned and hardy rivals. The 5/2 shot won this race in taking fashion as she quickened up well for Seamie Heffernan to seize control approaching the final furlong en route to defeating Baron Samedi by five and a half lengths.

“She obviously gets the trip very well and handles the ground. We’ll see what the lads want to do but there is a chance she could stay in training next year. She has a lot of class going that trip and could be a serious Cup filly. Seamus gave her a lovely ride and was very patient with her,” said O’Brien.

Falcon in full flight

After sending out Search For A Song to run such a brave second in the Prix Royal-Oak Dermot Weld later made his mark in the Tote-sponsored Amateur Derby where that mare’s elder brother Falcon Eight built on his unlucky fifth in the Irish Cesarewitch.

A first winner at the track for jockey Finny Maguire, the 4/6 favourite had to work for this success and was under pressure sooner than chief rival Shanroe. He started to build up a head of steam approaching the last furlong though and reached the line with three and a half lengths to spare.

The Doctor Ronan Lambe-owned seven-year-old could revert to hurdles around Christmas time.

Title race revs up for Lee and Keane

THE ENTHRALLING jockey’s championship tussle ebbed and flowed once more as Billy Lee and Colin Keane ended the day all square again. Lee enjoyed a double which was completed when Moss Tucker built on a tremendous fifth in the Prix de l’Abbaye to justify his position as the 6/5 favourite in the Hatstone Solicitors Waterford Testimonial Stakes.

The teak-tough Charlie Bit Me Syndicate-owned four-year-old gave the impression that he had this race under control from a long way out. He led the group on the stand’s side from the outset and was well in control as the last furlong loomed. He finished with just under four lengths to spare over Big Gossey to serve notice that he will be a contender for some quality sprints in 2023.

“He ran a big race in France where he just missed the break. He’s very honest, reliable and solid and you’d like to think he’d have a productive year again next year,” stated Condon. “He might be a horse for Dubai in March or we’ll make a plan in listed and group races going forward.”

Bua benefits

Paddy Twomey, who has played a pivotal role during Lee’s title challenge, pitched in with a vital winner as Bua (5/2) annihilated her opponents in the Barberstown Castle Fillies Maiden over seven furlongs. This Ennistown Stud-owned daughter of Dark Angel could never land a blow on her debut over six furlongs at Dundalk but wasn’t at all disgraced in sixth.

The benefit of that run, the application of a visor and a slight step up in trip all enabled this filly to take a huge step forward. Bua eased to the front over a quarter of a mile from home and without coming under pressure, she moved further and further clear to hit the line with a dozen lengths to spare.

“I thought that she was our best two-year-old last spring but she had a couple of setbacks and went out of training from May until last October. She got a couple of setbacks but we always felt that she was worth persevering with,” declared Twomey. “She was very sleepy out of the gates at Dundalk last week but was much better today. She’s entered in the sales and may or may not take up her engagement. Billy feels that she’s one for group races next year.”

Imaginarium delivers

Colin Keane briefly held a lead of two over Lee after the Ger Lyons-trained Imaginarium won the Tote-sponsored maiden over nine furlongs. The Vincent Gaul-owned son of Make Believe lined up off an excellent second eight days previously and delivered on that initial promise. The 15/8 joint favourite got the front quite easily with two out and kept on nicely to see off Vocal Studies by four and a half lengths.

“He ran well in Leopardstown and this was the only option left for him. We knew the trip was too sharp for him but heavy ground was going to play to his strengths,” stated Lyons. “He ripped his shoe off two days ago and stood on a nail so hats off to my head lad as it was touch and go but we got him here.

“This was important for a number of reasons as I’d like him to win at three, second for Colin and lastly going into a four-year-old carrying 10st in maidens wasn’t where I wanted to be with him. He’s going to be a lovely horse next year.”

After running a huge race in the final of the auction series at Naas when fifth at 125/1, the Michael Grassick-trained Tooprofitable (6/1) took a further step forward to land the Tote-sponsored six-furlong two-year-old maiden. The front-running daughter of Profitable looked to be in trouble when joined by the newcomer Run Ran Run. The John Nolan-owned filly rallied splendidly for Leigh Roche and fought her way back to the front to score by a neck.

“It was a brave decision to go back to a maiden with her handicap mark but I think it was more to get back to the six furlongs with her. We’ll look at the Birdcatcher but I’d say that will probably be it,” remarked the trainer’s father, Michael.

A Harty success

for Paddy Harnett

THE Eddie and Patrick Harty-trained Coins Cross, who failed to fire at Leopardstown the previous afternoon, made a resounding return to form in the seven furlongs TRI Equestrian Handicap where he was returned a well-backed 11/2 chance under Paddy Harnett.

Now a dual winner, the Stanley Watson-owned son of Dragon Pulse came under a ride sooner than a number of his rivals. Nonetheless, he got to the front over a furlong from home and kept on well to defeat San Aer by two lengths.

“He’s won well at the finish, there is an engine in there. He got out of the race a little bit yesterday and it didn’t take anything out of him so I said we’d rock up here today,” remarked Eddie Harty. “He’s in the Goffs Autumn Horses-In-Training Sale. He’s been a good old campaigner and I wouldn’t mind having him back if someone wants to buy him.”

Specialist

As well as landing the Testimonial Stakes, Ken Condon secured the 47-75 rated five-furlong handicap with Sounds Of Spring.

Owned and bred by the trainer’s long standing patron Robert Ng, the son of Dark Angel looked an unlikely winner when Condon skipped several lengths clear entering the last furlong. However, Niall McCullagh conjured a whirlwind late charge from his mount and Sounds Of Spring charge to the front late on to carry the day by three parts of a length.

A soft-ground specialist who has done all his winning in the month of October, Sounds Of Spring may turn out at Naas on the final day of the season.