SHANE Foley is blazing a trail in pursuit of a first flat jockeys’ championship and extended his advantage at Cork’s Sunday meeting with a 109/1 double aboard Street Kid and Sage Advice.
The continued good form of the Jessica Harrington yard has laid the foundation for Foley’s title bid, and the Sarah Kelly-owned Street Kid added to their tally in the opening Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden.
The easy-to-back 10/1 chance, just denied on debut at Navan by subsequent Railway Stakes winner Laws Of Indices before disappointing at Naas, returned to form with a vengeance in this extended six-furlong contest.
Foley’s mount was boxed-in on the rail early in the straight but quickened up nicely when eventually getting a gap to beat Tar Heel by three lengths.
“He disappointed on his second run but was a bit sore after it and we gave him some time. In fairness his work has come good and he enjoyed that slow ground. It’s quite testing out there and there isn’t much yielding in it (officially soft after the second race),” said Foley before adding, “He doesn’t like being in front too soon, and you could see when he got there that he had a bit of a look.”
Sage Advice (9/1) put Foley on the 54-winner mark and 14 clear in the title race when swooping late in the 10-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Trained by Joe Murphy for the Galtee Racing Syndicate, the Make Believe gelding had about four lengths to make up on Alghazaal over a furlong out but gradually reeled in that rival to score by three-quarters-of-a-length.
The Fethard trainer said: “He’s a nice horse and only a shell of what he will be. He’s a big growing three-year-old and a nice horse for the future. I think he’ll get a mile and a half but he’s just a bit weak yet.”
Pleasing effort from Sasta
SHANE Foley went close to making it a treble on the day when Ya Ya Baby was edged out by the Kevin Manning-ridden Sasta (8/1) in the Corkracecourse.ie Handicap.
The Dawn Approach filly is trained by Jim Bolger for his wife Jackie and their daughter Una Manning commented: “She likes that ground and was very game and dug deep. We’ll see what the handicapper does and I’d imagine she will go for something similar.”
Alghazaal’s connections went one better elsewhere on the card as the Kevin Prendergast-trained Monaasib relished the soft ground to take the three-runner Mallow Race.
Chris Hayes, sporting the familiar blue and white silks of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum, sent the even-money shot past market rival Arctician about two furlongs out and kept on well to beat that rival by a length and a half.
“I got a nice tow into it, got there plenty soon enough and he rolled about a bit on me. I think he’ll improve and he could be a nice three-year-old,” said Hayes.
“The boss said to me don’t give it to him (Arctician) easy and have a go at him from the two. He actually surprised me how well he picked up, and the fact that he handles that ground means we could have a nice autumn campaign with him.”
ANOTHER veteran trainer on the mark in Cork was Willie Martin as the Stephen McGuinness-owned Time Stands Still (12/1) drew clear inside the final furlong under Willie Byrne to beat Improving by nearly three lengths in the 45-70 rated extended six-furlong handicap.
“She had been hard to win with this year and we couldn’t get her fit. She’s an older mare now but loves it here and likes a cut in the ground,” said Martin’s son and assistant Mick.
The final two races on the card went to Curragh trainers Michael Grassick and Eddie Harty. Grassick struck with Loingseoir in the 45-70 rated 10-furlong handicap, the 12/1 chance getting the better of a protracted battle with Vita Veritas by three quarters of a length.
Winning rider Mikey Sheehy said: “He jumped slowish but I let him get into his rhythm. He quickened up well in the straight and won well at the line. He was good and tough, and loved the ground.”
Harty opened his account for the current flat season as David Garrick led over a furlong out and kept on well under Mark Gallagher to beat Yafordadoe by a length and three quarters in the mile handicap.
“We have always thought a bit of him. We were a bit worried about the ground but he handled it well,” said Harty. “The horses have been running well all season and it means a lot for morale to get that one on the board.
“A mile looks his trip. He’s turned a corner this year and is running very consistently. I’m delighted for David Nagle as he’s been a pal for many years and it’s great to train a winner for him.”