FRESH from riding three winners at Fairyhouse earlier in the week, Colin Keane was at it again in Dundalk on Friday night with his treble paying just over 54/1. Beau Satchel got the ball rolling in the apprentice handicap over a mile. Punters had latched on to him running off an 8lb lower mark on the all-weather as he was heavily backed from 5/1 in the morning to 15/8 favourite on the off. Once Keane brought him to the front over a furlong out, the result was never in doubt as he asserted to win by three lengths.
Ado McGuinness’ head lad Gary Barron commented: “We thought we would exploit his all-weather mark. We’ve always thought a lot of him. He’ll probably get a break; we’ll see what the handicapper might do. We thought he liked soft ground but he likes the sand too! He’ll go for premier handicaps next year.
“He has very good owners (Total Recall Racing Club). They had Beau Michael too. The owners are from all over the country with Dave Corr heading the syndicate.”
Keane’s double was secured by My Good Brother (9/2) who kept on well to take the six-furlong Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Race by two and a quarter lengths in Oliver Curtis’ colours.
Trainer Tom McCourt said: “On ratings he was entitled to do that. He was rated only second to Farmleigh House who hasn’t quite been himself. He loves it around here and he’ll probably come back for a listed race in around three weeks’ time. He’s a very useful sort of horse. With him liking the surface I might look at England. I might look at the Spring Series in Lingfield. Colin knows him inside out – that’s a big plus.”
Keane’s boss, Ger Lyons, provided the third leg of the treble. Qatar Racing Limited’s Snowmane (5/2f) enjoyed himself in the extended mile and two handicap. The three-year-old son of Galileo posted a comfortable five-length victory.
“That’s his trip, a mile and two on good ground. We were probably stretching him a bit over further,” Lyons explained. “He’ll probably get a good adjustment for that. He’s in the horses in training sale at the end of the month so we’ll speak to the boss and see.”
The feature race on the card was the Group 3 Diamond Stakes landed in good fashion by English raider Cat O’Mountain. Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby booked Fran Berry for the ride on the 111-rated four-year-old. Berry had a willing partner as the pair prevailed by half a length and justified 2/1 favouritism in this extended mile and two contest. Prince Of All battled gamely once headed over a furlong out but was unable to get on terms.
Berry said: “He’s a very nice horse and he had the form to win it. Charlie said to disregard his Kempton run as it was his first run off a break and he was trapped wide. That’s my first ride for the yard. I was able to follow Chris Hayes (Prince Of All) through. He did it well despite idling in front.”
Having been placed on all four previous outings, Manny Owens stepped up to get off the mark in the juvenile maiden over a mile. The 3/1 favourite, owned by Martin Flinter, fended off staying-on Great Dancer by a length and three quarters with Sean Corby doing the steering.
Handler Cormac Farrell said: “He has improved all season. Although he handles that surface, he really wants it soft. We couldn’t see him beaten the last day but he got a bit lonely in front.
“That’s him finished for the season now. He could step up next year. He’ll get further than that. It wouldn’t surprise me if he made his way to the good handicaps. We’ll start him off in handicaps. We have the blinkers on him to teach him.”
Orcia may have been a 33/1 outsider for the seven-furlong fillies’ maiden for two-year-olds but her trainer Michael Halford was full of praise for her: “She was slowly away the last day and she got behind in a good race and she never got on terms. She was a different filly today and she’s a smashing type. She’ll get further in time and she has a beautiful temperament and she’ll improve.”
The Shamardal filly had to survive a stewards’ inquiry before leading home a Halford one-two from Maira. The latter together with third-placed Clutchingatstraws suffered interference at the business end of the race, however, the placings remained unaltered. Maira’s jockey Pat Smullen received a two-day ban though, while Conor Hoban, who was on Orcia, was hit with a five-day suspension. The winner paid €112.40 on the Tote.
Kevin Prendergast’s Master Melody gave young jockey Dylan Hogan his breakthrough success in Division One of the mile and a half handicap. It was only in the final 100 yards that Master Melody inched ahead to score by a neck at 5/1.
A delighted Hogan, who is 19 and from Co Clare, said: “That’s my first winner and it’s a great feeling. Thanks go to the boss and to Chris Hayes, Willie Supple and Stephen Craine. The boss is a great master and trainer. I’m getting a bit of practice on this horse. I thought he was unlucky last week and I got a nice run up the inside tonight.”
Newry owner/breeder Brendan Quinn saw his Tight Times take the finale under Joseph O’Brien at 13/2. Trainer Brian Hamilton commented: “He’s been disappointing over hurdles but I thought he was reasonably well handicapped and I was trying to get the owners some prize money. He’s a horse that could do with a break now. We just put the cheekpieces on to get him to travel.”
ACTING STEWARDS
P.N. Reynolds, R. Dore, R. Hall, E. Irwin, M.F. O’Donoghue
HORSE TO FOLLOW
CRECORA (J.J. Murphy): After 10 turf appearances, he showed a real aptitude for the polytrack and a step up in trip when staying on strongly for second in a mile and a half handicap. He was fully 12th turning for home.