Karl Hedley sends an update on the Flat action from across the Irish Sea
The weather is really starting to heat up in Ireland and so too is the action on the Flat. I have reviewed some of the performances that have really taken the eye over recent weeks and have provided quotes from trainers or jockeys of those horses who look to have decent prospects over the days and weeks ahead.
The Ger Lyons-trained Serious Notions gained a deserved win when recording a convincing success in a fillies’ maiden at Roscommon at the beginning of the month. Colin Keane was to the fore early on the favourite, before following Second Princess in the 7f contest.
He took it up again turning for home on the Advertise filly and she stayed on strongly in the closing stages to post an easy five-and-ahalf length win over Castanets.
“She was entitled to do that, she obviously got her black-type as a two-year-old (when third in the Ingabelle Stakes),” said Shane Lyons. “The owners have been very patient with her. They are Irish/American and spend six months of the year over here and six months back in America. Unfortunately they’ve gone back to America.
“There is a lot of interest in her, for her pedigree. That’s a box ticked now so we’ll go and make a plan for the rest of the year and enjoy the year if she’s not sold.”
A stable star for Co Offaly handler Philip Byrne, Out On Friday, recorded a seventh career success in the ten furlong handicap later on the same card. Adopting his customary front-running role under Wesley Joyce, the eight-year-old Masterofthehorse gelding was ridden with less than two-furlongs to go.
His advantage was whittled away inside the final 200 yards and he was all out at the line to hold off the fast-finishing Slieve Binnian by a nose.
There was just a short head back to Annexation in third, also finishing with a flourish under Billy Lee.
The favourite, Bear Profit was another two-and-a-half lengths away in fourth.
“It was a super ride by Wesley. He’s an enterprising brave young rider. He got things just right and was very strong in the finish,” said Byrne.
“I’m delighted for the owner/ breeder Tony Deegan. He wants to be at every dog-fight going and in fairness to the horse he turns up every time. He’s very lucky to have a horse like him. He’s a very sound horse and he shows up. He’s very easy to train and has a great constitution. That’s the seventh win of his career so he is a super horse.
“I couldn’t be happier with him and I’m delighted for all the connections.”
On just her second start for Paddy Twomey and Moyglare Stud Farm, La Isla Mujeres landed the feature race over a mile-and-a-half at Roscommon later in the evening.
Twice successful last summer when in the care of Ralph Beckett, the Lope De Vega four-year-old changed hands for £330,000 at the Tattersalls UK December Mares Sale.
Fifth on her debut for current connections in the Orby Stakes at the Curragh, the bay victor was sent off a 7/2 chance and was soon settled in second by Billy Lee, who was earlier successful on Gosford
Sent to the front with two furlongs to go, she readily increased her advantage and came home three-anda-half lengths to the good.
While the outsider of the field, Cristal Clere kept on well to take second under Colin Keane for John Nallen, and the Joseph O’Brien pair of Deakin and Raise You both disappointing, with the latter trailing home in last.
“She had some nice form last year and I knew she’d come on plenty for her first run,” said Twomey. The ground was a bit tight that day at the Curragh and I hadn’t killed her going there as she had a couple of hard years with Ralph (Beckett) and I wanted to give her a chance.
They are a good farm and she was bought as a potential broodmare to add to their band. It was important she got black-type and she has, which is fantastic. She’s a Listed winner now so we’ll have a look at a fillies Group 3 somewhere, probably a mile-and-a-half.
“She has a bit of pedigree and she has plenty of ability so we’ll pick our spots carefully. She has form on the all-weather and grass. I’d say she didn’t like it as fast as it was at the Curragh on Guineas weekend.”
The following day the action switched to Tipperary and the opening race went the way of the appropriately named She’s Quality. She won just as easily as her pre-race odds suggested she should when proving far too good for a quartet of rivals in the opening EBF Race over the minimum 5f trip.
Sent off at prohibitive odds (4/9f) to follow up her recent handicap win at Down Royal, supporters of the 3yo never had an anxious moment as she barely had to be asked a question under Ronan Whelan. Runner-up in a Listed race on her third last run, the daughter of Acclamation looked well treated here off a mark of 103.
Always travelling well within herself, She’s Quality headed early leader Branding over a furlong out before extending without being asked for maximum effort to win by three-anda-quarter lengths.
With both Branding and Zarra Ellis weakening inside the last, Gabriella’s Spirit came through to take minor honours.
Jack Davison said: “She was very professional, and it is all starting to click. We’re working on her confidence and the last two runs will do her the world of good. I really do think she’s going to be a very good sprinter going forward.”
The Aidan O’Brien trained Surpass retained his unbeaten record when easily proving too strong for a trio of opponents over seven furlongs in the Glenvale Stud Race later on the card.
In doing so, the Ryan Moore partnered juvenile was also making it two-from-two at that track, having made a winning debut at this track in May. Moore sat second on the Saxon Warrior colt, as Luke McAteer made the running on the once-raced Runninsonofagun
As the latter came under pressure early in the straight, Surpass moved up to take the lead over a furlong out. Quickly stretching clear of that rival, he only had to be pushed out hands and heels to see off newcomer Dakota Blue by three lengths.
Ryan Moore said: “He’s a nice horse and has had two nice runs here. He’s impressed me both times and hopefully he has a nice future. He’s very comfortable on that ground.”
Towards the rear on debut behind the hugely impressive Babouche at Cork just over three weeks back, Amazing Athena came on significantly to take the Irish a fillies’ maiden at Naas a few days later.
It was looking good for connections and backers of Tempest Star with that one making a bold bid to assert from over furlong out.
However ‘the finishers’ were on the near-side, chief among which was the Johnny Murtagh-trained and Ben Coen-ridden 25/1 chance Amazing Athena. She got up to score by half a length. “She ran so bad first time out but she was very green, never got into the race and Ben said she was all over the place,” said Murtagh on the Mark Dobbin-owned daughter of Mehmas.
“Her work had been consistently good and I was expecting a bit better so I was coming here hoping today.
“Fast ground and five furlongs really suits her. We think she’s a nice filly and she’s sure to improve with a bit of racing as well. She has a nice pedigree, her half-sister (Basil Martini) is a Group 3 winner so we’ll try and do something similar with her.
Mikey Sheehy successfully deputised for an unwell Declan McDonogh as Surfers Paradise led home a one two in the Michael Tabor silks in a seven furlong rated race a little later on the card.
Trainer Joseph O’Brien upstaged his father Aidan here as Surfers Paradise stayed on too powerfully in the closing stages for Ballydoyle’s Democracy. A length and three parts split them. Nine to four favourite Chicago Fireball was a neck back in third in this small field heat.
Stable representative Sean Corby said:- “He picked up well. Mikey said they went a nice pace and he was able to track them and hold on to him and he picked up.
“I thought he went away and won well in the end.
“He had good runs in maidens and was actually second to Los Angeles at Tipperary last year. The ability is there but he’s always kind of been knocking on the door. I’d say gelding him has done the trick. He’s off to the sales tonight.”
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