THE talented Port Lions showed just what he can do when he puts his best foot forward as he notched up his second win since joining Madeleine Tylicki in the Party Time Ltd Marquee Hire Rated Race.
The four-year-old, who was picked up for 22,000gns last October, failed to fire at the Curragh the previous weekend but did far better here to look again like a canny purchase by his connections.
Chris Hayes produced the son of Kodiac from off the pace with a powerful last-furlong charge which enabled the 4/1 chance to nail the front-running Geological on the line. The winner is owned by the Lions Partnership whose members include the trainer’s brother Freddy who was instrumental in picking out this horse at the sales last autumn.
Fresh from partnering Just Wonderful into second in the Belmont Oaks in New York the previous night, Wayne Lordan made the dash back across the Atlantic worthwhile as he landed the opening two-year-old median auction maiden on Croughavouke (6/1).
This daughter of Dandy Man, who finished third to Tango at Navan on her debut last month, led over a furlong from home and held on well to defeat Pixel Power by three-quarters of a length. Aidan Fogarty trains the winner for his father, Joe, and this homebred comes from a great Ballylinch family that has produced the likes of the Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Red Rocks.
“We felt that she’s improved since Navan. We’ll look for blacktype with now, be it at home or in England,” reported Aidan Fogarty after his charge had landed this six-and-a-half-furlong contest.
After enjoying precious little luck in running when unplaced in a Naas handicap the previous week, Phoenix Open (7/2) enjoyed much better fortune in the McSweeney Sports Surfaces Equestrian Maiden over a mile. The Ger Lyons-trained and Colin Keane-ridden three-year-old got on top as the line loomed to defeat the front-running Myth Creation by half a length. The 71-rated son of Scat Daddy is owned by his American-based breeder Mark Breen.
IT was an excellent afternoon for Joseph O’Brien who registered a treble and he shared two of those victories with his brother Donnacha. The pair struck first with the tough Syrena who was recording her second win from nine starts this season in the three-year-olds’ six-and-a-half-furlong handicap. The Annus Mirabilis Syndicate-owned daughter of Gale Force Ten showed a fine attitude to come out the right side of a gripping three-way finish in the last stride. The 7/2 favourite defeated Jungle Jungle by a nose with Paris Duvet just a head away in third.
The O’Brien brothers also struck with Fancy Footings in the 45-70 rated mile handicap where the 3/1 shot built on a pair of runner-up finishes on his first two starts for the trainer. This Arion Racing-owned Dandy Man three-year-old led inside the distance for a half-length triumph over the staying-on 33/1 chance Travelwise.
The final leg of Joseph O’Brien’s treble came from an unexpected quarter as Jumellea (20/1) made her first venture outside of maidens a winning one in the 50-80 rated mile-and-a-half handicap. This daughter of Zoffany, who is owned by the trainer’s mother Anne Marie, showed ability in several of her maiden runs but produced her best effort yet in first-time blinkers.
Declan McDonogh sent her to the front with over a furlong to run and the pair held off One Cool Poet by a head. The winner could easily progress further after just five runs.
Crosse impresses with a double
A HIGHLY impressive third season in the saddle for Nathan Crosse continued as he notched up a double which moved him on to the 15-winner mark for the campaign. Crosse completed his brace on Dinard Rose (11/8) in the 45-65 rated handicap over an extended mile and a half.
Noel Meade’s charge, who is owned by former top amateur Nina Carberry, was following up a win at Bellewstown three days previously. The second from that Bellewstown race, Millford Sound, had won the previous day at Naas and this daughter of Champs Elysees further underlined the notable strength of that form for this bracket of competition with a comfortable three-length triumph.
Crosse was earlier successful on the Johnny Feane-trained Dragons Call who bounced back to form with an all the way success in the seven-furlong handicap. After beginning her season over sprint trips, the Frank Campbell-owned and bred daughter of Dragon Pulse enjoyed this slightly longer distance and being left to her own devices up front to post a two-and-a-quarter-length victory over Parkers Hill. This was her first win since she landed a premier nursery at Navan last season.