SHANE Foley and Jessica Harrington continued their remarkable rich vein of form at Dundalk last Friday night, with Foley riding a hat-trick for his boss as part of his four-timer on the card.
Leo De Fury was the star act on the night for the pair, and he duly claimed the mile-and-a-half conditions event.
A drop in grade saw the Australia gelding run out a cosy winner to record his first success of the season. The five-year-old had been unlucky in running when hampered in Group 3 company at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Stakes Day but it proved plain sailing this time.
Foley sent the 15/8 favourite to the front a furlong from home and the pair pulled clear in the closing stages to beat Benaud by three and a quarter lengths.
“He’s a lovely horse, he’s just a bit off being a real good horse and he has to be minded as he has had a few little niggly things here and there. He’s a legend and a stable favourite,” said Foley.
Success
The colours of Zhang Yuesheng were also carried to success earlier on the card when Exquisite Acclaim took the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden .
The Acclamation colt was driven along to make a move turning for home and picked it up passing the furlong pole. Foley kept the 7/4 joint-favourite up to his work to record a one-and-three-quarter-length win in the six-furlong contest.
“It worked out perfectly, the cheekpieces helped him and the surface helped him,” said the winning rider. “I didn’t think it would take until now for him to win as he works like a nice horse at home.”
Foley was on the mark again in the following Crowne Plaza Hotel Handicap as Sister Lola made a winning start for James McAuley. The 8/1 shot came with a strong run to lead inside the final furlong and beat Tai Sing Yeh by a length and a half.
It was her first start for McAuley who had claimed her at the venue earlier in the month, and he said: “There was no rocket science in claiming her, I think there were 10 claims in for her last week. It didn’t take a genius to figure she was cheap, I didn’t think she’d repay us that quickly but it’s great.”
Clew Bay made it a treble for Harrington and gave Foley a third career four-timer when claiming the concluding 10-furlong handicap.
The New Bay filly came to lead a furlong and a half from home and always looked to be holding her challengers as she scored by three-parts of a length from Firstman.
“It’s been a fantastic evening and the horses are just on fire, long may it continue,” said Foley, who was in the colours of Philip and Jane Myerscough.
“I ended up getting there plenty soon but the gap was going to close and I had to take it when I did but she stayed going.”
THE Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap was divided to form the eight-race card and Never Back Down lived up to his name when claiming the first heat.
The Kodiac gelding was always prominent for Joe Doyle and kicked a few lengths clear passing the two-furlong pole. Joseph Murray’s charge held the challenge of Hightown Heights in the closing stages to record a win by three-quarters of a length.
Murray who trains the winner for Patrick O’Brien said: “His work had improved in the last couple of weeks and maybe the step up to a mile helped. He likes it here in Dundalk as well.”
In the second division Skontonovski doubled up in good style for Ado McGuinness and owner Mark Devlin.
Ronan Whelan came with a strong run on the 11/1 shot inside the final furlong as he posted a one-and-three-quarter-length victory to supplement his win at Cork nine days previously.
“I have him in a few races at Listowel and he probably has to go again because the handicapper is going to hammer him,” said McGuinness.
A trip to Kerry was also on the agenda for Blue Shadow following his win in the BetVictor Apprentice Handicap.
Andy Oliver’s charge was given a “peach of a ride” by Siobhan Rutledge as the 7/2 favourite came to lead just inside the final furlong to post a two-and-a-half-length win in the mile-and-a-half contest.
The winner is owned by Paul Hardy, and Oliver commented afterwards: “He deserved that as he’s been knocking on the door. It’s thoroughly deserved by both horse and owners as they’ve persisted with him all year.”
THE opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race produced a tight finish with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Hms Endeavour pulling out plenty late on to secure a half-length win.
Seamie Heffernan tracked the leader on the War Front colt before coming to dispute at the furlong pole with Jarvis. The even-money favourite edged ahead inside the final furlong to secure a follow-up win after his Navan maiden victory last month.
“He has pace and he stays going,” said Heffernan afterwards. “I won well. The ones either side of me just leapt a little bit but I was happy enough following them.
“We were lifting early on! I’m happy with him.”