GLOUNTHAUNE continued an unerringly similar career path to last year’s winner Poetic Flare when landing the featured Richmond Homes Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown.
Both colts won early-season maidens before a lengthy spell on the sidelines prior to finishing unplaced in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, and Glounthaune also emulated the subsequent Qipco 2000 Guineas hero by bouncing back just seven days later to take this Group 3 prize.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained juvenile was ridden to challenge between horses over a furlong out by Seamie Heffernan and the easy-to-back 5/1 shot kept on gamely in the closing stages to beat Pennine Hills by half a length.
The front-running I Am Magic was the same distance further back in third and they certainly finished in a heap with less than two lengths covering the first six home.
The trialling of a cutaway rail off the home bend was generally well received but Boundless Ocean still had a luckless run up the inner and was denied a clear run inside the final furlong, finishing just a head away in fourth.
Ran well
Heffernan said of the winner: “He’s a very big colt by Kodiac who was an impressive winner but then went a bit weak and missed a lot of time. His work was nice going to the Dewhurst and he ran well without being placed.
“He came out of it fresh and Aidan was happy enough to let him take his chance today. He said that he’d improved and I was delighted to put on these colours (of Evie Stockwell) which have been very lucky for me.”
He added: “I’ve been a little bit disappointed with some of ours lately so I’d say this fella has loads to come and probably did well to win today. He showed a strong will and won well at the line. He has a bit of class and I think a mile is his trip.”
THE Manguard Plus Trigo Stakes was the other blacktype race on the card and Georgeville, who picked up good place prize money earlier this season, came good in this 10-furlong listed race.
Owned in partnership by David Spratt, Sean Jones and Lynne Lyons, the 4/1 joint-favourite made smooth headway early in the straight and was driven clear in the final 100 yards by Colin Keane to beat Wuqood by two and a half lengths.
“Colin has the key to him and rides him cold. He’s going to be a real fun horse for us next year in that grade and reminds us a lot of Brendan Bracken.
“He’s done us proud all year and next year is a big year for him,” said Shane Lyons representing his brother Ger.
Keane later completed a 24/1 double and moved onto the 131-winner mark in a record-breaking season after Lunar Power took the Carmanhall Handicap in runaway fashion.
Trained by Noel Meade for Patricia Hunt, the 4/1 chance had filled the runner-up spot on his previous four flat starts but went one better in no uncertain manner stretching right away in the final furlong to beat Britzka by an easy six lengths.
“That was amazing. He’s been running all year with blinkers and cheekpieces but we took everything off today and maybe he’s better off without them.
“Going even further will probably suit him better and I’d imagine he’ll try jumping again. He’s basically a summer horse so he’ll have a break over the winter,” said Meade.
Aggie justifies market support
THE Leopardstown October Premier Handicap was a typically competitive 20-runner affair and Powerful Aggie, available at 10/1 overnight and further supported on track into 9/2 joint-favourite, challenged between horses in the straight before keeping on gamely under Mikey Sheehy to hold off Pin Your Hopes by a head.
Winning trainer Joseph O’Brien’s assistant Brendan Powell said: “I thought Mikey gave her a great ride because he could have stayed down the inner and might have got boxed in. He saw a gap and when she’s got to the front she wouldn’t let anything pass her. She just seems to do enough and she stays well. It’s a good pot to win and it’s nice that the lads (Power Thoroughbreds) are here to see her today.”
O’Brien was sending out a double as Good Heavens, runner-up at the Curragh on her previous two starts, got off the mark in the Irish EBF Supporting Treo Eile Maiden. The JP McManus-owned 5/2 shot led over a furlong out and quickened clear under Shane Crosse to beat Impero by five lengths.
Experience
McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry said: “His experience stood to him and it was a good performance. Getting a lead was a good help to him and he quickened up well. He couldn’t have done it any better today.”
Shane Foley moved onto the 80-winner mark for the season as Villanova Queen took the other juvenile maiden on the card – the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. After the 12/1 chance made good headway on the inner early in the straight to beat Kerkiyra by three-quarters of a length, trainer Jessica Harrington said: “This filly was in behind on her first run at the Curragh and didn’t know what to do. She was galloping into the horses in front of her.
“It’s lovely for Bill (Crager, owner) and she was bought by Ben McElroy. She won’t run again this year and will be a mile-and-a-quarter or mile-and-a-half filly next year.”
Opened account
Morcana, trained and bred by Sheila Lavery, opened her account at odds of 5/1 in the Leopardstown Members Club Maiden. The Elzaaam filly responded to Robbie Colgan’s urgings getting on top inside the final furlong to beat favourite Zaynudin by three-quarters of a length.
“She didn’t really cope with the undulations and turns at Punchestown but I’m delighted that she’s gone and done it today. She’s a homebred and after her first run in Navan an owner in the yard, Sue Chadwick, came in and bought her which is brilliant for me. I get to keep her but don’t have to pay the training bills!” said Lavery.
“All the family just take time and Sue should have plenty of fun with her next year. Robbie said she’s still green and very laidback but he’d trouble pulling her up.”
Jim Bolger and Luke McAteer, out of luck with Boundless Ocean in the feature, had better fortune in the Hazel Avenue Nursery where Nectarine (9/2 - 16/5) justified good support. The Bolger daughter of Parish Hall was ridden to lead over a furlong out and kept on to beat Black Pepper by half a length.
“She’s run well in nurseries and she loved the little bit of cut in the ground. The mile was no problem and hopefully next year she can pick up and go again,” said McAteer.