ERZINDJAN bounced back from an unplaced comeback in the last month’s Madrid Handicap to account for some useful types in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race and signal that he is ready to return to stakes level.
The Dermot Weld-trained colt, who was tried at Group 3 level last term, had to settle for seventh on his reappearance but was altogether better as a result of that return.
Colin Keane produced the well-supported 9/2 chance to take the measure of the favourite Roman Empire with a quarter of a mile to run and the Aga Khan-owned son of Lope De Vega went to the line in good style to defeat fellow 91-rated runner Laelaps by two and three-quarter lengths.
“He’s a good colt and he ran better than his finishing position would suggest at the Curragh,” said the trainer’s son, Kris. “The step up to a mile suited him well and he could move back up to stakes level in something like the Amethyst Stakes at Leopardstown next month.”
There was also a nice type on show in the three-year-old mile handicap where Joseph O’Brien’s Visualisation landed quite a gamble.
In the colours of the trainer’s mother, Annemarie, this son of No Nay Never was backed from 20/1 into 6/1 for his first run since winning a Dundalk maiden in January.
Right side
The Shane Crosse-ridden colt, who was trying turf for the first time, got on top early in the last furlong and won by just under three lengths, giving the impression that he was a handicapper to stay on the right side of.
“He’s a fine, big horse and very tough and he’s got a bit of pace too. Hopefully he could make up into a horse for a nice handicap and Shane felt he will get a mile and a quarter but he wouldn’t need to go that far yet,” reported Brendan Powell.
Merroir made it a double for Joseph O’Brien in the second divide of the 45-65 rated mile-and-three-quarters handicap.
Dylan Browne McMonagle and the 4/1 chance were always in the front rank before taking charge of this race some way out and the pair reached the line with three lengths to spare over Alohamora.
This was a first career success for the Max Morris-owned and -bred four-year-old daughter of Born To Sea.
FRESH from a fine Fairyhouse, Willie Mullins successfully turned his attentions to the flat as the former Cesarewitch winner Stratum bagged the mile-and-three quarters conditions race.
On his first flat start since finishing down the field in November’s Melbourne Cup, the Tony Bloom-owned eight-year-old enjoyed a clear-cut success under Seamie Heffernan.
The 6/4 favourite got past the game front-runner, Springbank, with well over a furlong to run and reached the line with a four-length margin to spare.
“He was tough. That was a nice opportunity and he took it. I’d say we will keep him to a staying programme on the flat,” reported the trainer.
The Pat Flynn stalwart Aunty Audrey (25/1) notched up the fifth win of her career and her third at this track in the 45-65 rated mile-and-three-quarter handicap.
As she went in search of her first triumph in just under two years, this Simon Girvan-owned mare looked to have matters firmly in hand in the last furlong.
However, she endured a late scare as she was eased right down by Alan Persse which allowed Stellify to close to within a neck at the line.
Murtagh fires in a double
AFTER shaping up nicely to be third on her debut here last October, Create Belief made a winning return to Gowran Park in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden over a mile.
Johnny Murtagh’s charge, who was picked up for €12,000 as a yearling, made light of a potentially troublesome wide draw to take up a prominent position early on. Ben Coen then sent her to the front approaching the last quarter of a mile and the daughter of Awtaad went on to defeat Adelisa by two and a quarter lengths.
“I’m delighted with her. She ran well here last year and I went home happy then and she’s after strengthening up and doing well over the winter. She saw out that trip well,” declared the trainer’s wife and winning owner, Orla Murtagh.
New recruit Ottawa Fire made it a double for Murtagh and Ben Coen as he shrugged off joint top-weight in the 45-65 rated Xenon Security Handicap over a mile.
The Murtagh-owned 2/1 favourite was making his handicap debut and was also running on grass for the first time, and he enjoyed an assured two-and-a-quarter-length triumph over No Way Jack.
“This horse came from Eddie Linehan. Our apprentice Jamie Powell rode him and recommended him to us so we got him and he’s going to pay his way,” commented Orla Murtagh.
The other maiden on the card produced a 16/1 winner as Jim Bolger’s Stylistic Approach edged out the Murtagh-trained Skilled Warrior in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden for colts and geldings.
In a time marginally slower than the fillies over the same distance earlier on the card, the Jackie Bolger-owned winner and Skilled Warrior went toe-to-toe up front in a race where nothing else could land a telling blow.
The last-named gave his all to remain in front but he finally succumbed to Kevin Manning’s mount late on.
“He had a very good run here last October when he was second to a nice horse of Donnacha’s (Ones Are Wild) and then he just found six furlongs to sharp on his last run of the season. His run here entitled him to go close,” declared the rider.