JESSICA Harrington and Shane Foley enjoyed the perfect warm up for Champions Weekend as they notched up a treble which saw the promising Trevaunance give the trainer her first winner in the Moyglare Stud colours.
Trevaunance began her career with a pleasing fourth to Rerouting in what looked a good maiden at Gowran Park last month and she progressed nicely from that to lead home a Moyglare one-two in the Yeomanstown Stud Camacho Irish EBF Fillies Maiden.
The 2/1 favourite controlled this race from the front and despite the field looking reasonably well grouped, nothing could match her when she kicked for home.
At the line, the daughter of Muhaarar had two and a half lengths clear of the Ballydoyle newcomer Thoughts Of June, and she should be quite at home when she moves up in class.
“The plan was to go forward and was able to control the race but having said that she’s a lovely, big strong filly and a better gallop would have suited better,” declared Foley.
“In Gowran her last furlong was her best and she’s a filly we’ve always loved. She’ll be a nice one for next year.”
The opening leg of the treble was achieved on ground that was good to firm in places but by the time Confident Star struck in the fifth, the Coolmore Gleneagles Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden, the going had changed to good to yielding.
Good attitude
A good second to Pride Of Derry at Roscommon last month saw Confident Star returned the 11/10 favourite and he showed a good attitude to pull victory out of the fire.
The son of Lope De Vega appeared to be hard at work entering the last quarter of a mile but he raised his effort in gritty fashion and got on top late on to defeat the newcomer Aikhal by half a length. The winner carries the colours of Ecurie Ama Zing Team.
The treble was then brought up in the most valuable race of the evening as the Alpha Racing-owned Viareggio (11/2) opened her account in the €30,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery over seven-furlongs.
In a first-time visor, this Caravaggio filly dug in well after finding herself in front over a furlong out. She first saw off the effort of Nectarine and then held on well nearing the line to prevail by a head from Dickochea.
GER Lyons unveiled yet another talented two-year-old in the shape of Markaz Paname who made short work of his rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over five furlongs.
A starting price of 8/11 suggested that this Donal Boylan-owned and -bred son of Markaz was a smart type and he produced a performance to match.
He picked up nicely to lead over a furlong from home and went to the line strongly to score by three lengths from My Eyes Adores You. The Blenheim Stakes at Fairyhouse on Monday week could be next for the winner.
The card concluded with two divisions of a 45-65 rated seven-furlong handicap and the first split went to John McConnell and Siobhan Rutledge as Nana Patsy (10/1) bolted up in the style of one who should be worth following this autumn.
On her return from a five-month absence, this filly wasn’t disgraced on her handicap debut at the Curragh in late August and she made short work of these rivals.
The Derek Kierans-owned three-year-old led well over a furlong out and won three and a half lengths.
“She’s always shown a fair bit at home but things haven’t gone right for her,” reflected McConnell. “She is named after Derek’s late mam, so it is a sentimental win.”
The other division of that handicap went to Adrian McGuinness and Ronan Whelan as Skontonovski (9/1) provided his connections with a relatively quick return on the 6,500gns he cost at the Tattersalls July Sale.
The Mark Devlin-owned gelding got the better of Florence Thompson by a head after the pair had a good last-furlong tussle. The winner was making his fourth appearance for McGuinness.
ALESSANDRO Algardi (6/5) signalled that he will not be long in making up for lost time with a commanding dismissal of his opponents in the Donate To The Coast To Curragh Cycle Maiden over a mile.
This Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez-owned three-year-old, who was banishing some stalls trouble to the distant past, only made his debut last month when he caught the eye with a fourth in a sprint maiden at the Curragh.
The benefit of that run coupled with a longer trip enabled Joseph O’Brien’s charge to take a significant step forward and he asserted in great style over the last furlong and a half to defeat the 93-rated Giuliana by four lengths. This colt could be destined for much bigger things in due course.
“He went to the races last year and failed to go into the stalls and did the same at a barrier trial. Eamonn Kavanagh, from Aidan O’Brien’s, has taken him down the last twice now and has helped out a lot with him.
“He was a little difficult to load last time but went straight in today and Shane said he jumped out smart and quickened up well,” observed Brendan Powell.
Change of luck
After finally enjoying a deserved change of luck with a victory in a Curragh handicap last month, She’s In The Game (100/30) coped with a drop in trip and an appreciably higher level of competition in the six-furlong handicap.
The Bill Farrell-owned and trained daughter of Starspangledbanner finished with a flourish for Chris Hayes over the last furlong to edge out Eloso on the line.
“I put Chris on her as Neve Bennett couldn’t do the weight. Neve rides her most days and does a fantastic job with her. Once the ground goes, she’ll probably be gone for the year and I’ll probably race her on next year,” commented Farrell.