KATIE McGivern registered a first big-race success in Cork’s Doneraile Premier Handicap on Friday as Kendall Roy led home stablemate So Majestic in a notable 1-2 for the breeze-up consignor-cum-trainer.

The Rosslare trainer’s main business is selling breeze-up horses and having sent out her first winner with Kendall Roy last September, last Friday sent both he and her other previous winner So Majestic to contest the five-furlong dash.

Kendall Roy, under Declan McDonogh, led over a furlong out and held stablemate So Majestic in the final furlong to score a noteworthy winner for the delighted trainer.

McGivern reported: “Kendall Roy was too lazy the last day but Declan (McDonogh) was on the ball today and had him tuned in.

“Even though he broke the track record over five furlongs at Windsor, I thought he might need stepping up to six as he is so lazy.

She added: “My main game is the breeze-ups and I won’t diverge from that, but I have another few two-year-olds which I am left with. That’s the only reason I ever got out my trainers’ license, it is a hobby and is bringing a lot of joy to our household at the minute.”

Winning return

Jockey Leigh Roche returned from a mid-summer injury to provide Ross O’Sullivan with the first leg of a cross-card double, as Samrogue was the 28/1 winner of Cork’s Follow Us On Social Media Handicap, with Favori Logique following up for the in-form trainer at Kilbeggan. 

Roche sustained a rib injury 34 days ago and on owner Yvonne Lavin’s Samrogue, today steering the six-year-old mare to a very easy five-and-a-half-length win.

O’Sullivan reported: “That was a big surprise as she had a break after being withdrawn in the stalls at Navan (in April) and I thought she might need the run.

“It is hard to imagine a six-year-old mare improving as much as that but I suppose those sprinters can do it. We are just riding at the crest of a wave at the moment and the horses are just so healthy and well.

“Leigh and Shane Foley are so handy for riding work for us on the Curragh and Leigh is a great man. He missed a few winners due to his injury but that winner will help him ahead of the Galway festival.”

THERE was drama in the Buy Tickets Online Median Auction Race as winner Karsavina (6/4, in the famous Sangster silks) suffered significant interference in the home straight, as Hugh Horgan attempted to go through a gap on the inside rail, behind leader Cill Mocheallog (1/2 favourite). 

The manoeuvre resulted in Karsavina being bumped against the inside railing, with Cill Mocheallog’s jockey Bill Lee later incurring a four-day suspension for careless riding.

Following the race Karsavina’s trainer Joseph O’Brien was represented by Sean Corby who commented “it all went smooth until a furlong and a half down when things got tight. She was good and brave though, picked up well and galloped through the line.

“Now that she has got her head in front again, hopefully she can build on that and keep progressing.”

Fiery victory

Lee had earlier won the Sign Up To Our Newsletter Maiden on the Paddy Twomey-trained, heavily-backed Firebired (4/6 favourite) which easily defeated 14 rivals to score by five lengths from runner-up White Clover.

Regarding the Arabian Bloodstock-owned winner, Towmey reported “she came from Rebecca Menzies last year and from a late Sir Robert Ogden dispersal sale. She had a good first run and luckily followed it up today.” 

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THERE was a taking winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Race as outsider of the four runners Morning Vietnam (16/1) returned to the form shown on his successful Dundalk debut in March, scoring for jockey Seamie Heffernan, owners the Morning Vietnam Partnership and trainer Michael O’Callaghan.

Having his first run in 23 days and indeed since being gelded, the son of Bungle Inthejungle quickened smartly when defeating Lethimfly by three and a quarter lengths.

O’Callaghan said: “We have liked him from day one but always knew he was a little highly strung. He didn’t have a hard race the first day so you’d have been hoping he wouldn’t form this apprehension before his races, but that is what has happened. 

“He lost his races before the start twice so we had to geld him, which is not something I usually do (mid-season). He is very, very fast though and we are in no rush as he is a big 16.1hh horse. He is a beautiful mover, loves fast ground and could potentially be a good horse if we mind his mind.”

Wise maiden

Racing began with the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden and was won by the Jessica Harrington-trained, Shane Foley-partnered Wise Men Say (5/1) which seemed outpaced for much of the way but found plenty and eventually scored by a length from Gazelle D’or.

Afterwards prominent sales consignor Con Marnane, whose daughters Amy and Olivia own the winner, reported: “He is a smasher and wants to go further. He was off the bridle two or three furlongs out and when he gets up to seven (furlongs) or a mile he will be a lovely horse. Jessie and Dusty (Shane Foley) have done a super job with him.

“He is a good size, being 16.1hh, is a perfect model, wants good ground and would be ideal for America.”

All-out

The concluding Racing Again August 5th Handicap was won by the Paul Flynn-trained Solar Drive (9/2), which scored an all-out, short-head win under jockey Wayne Hassett. 

The Solar Drive Six Syndicate-owned grey had won a course handicap in April and Flynn today said: “I’d imagine he will go hurdling now as he isn’t as well handicapped. His owners might want to go to Galway as they are from there but it would be the wrong trip although he owes them nothing.” ?