Grundy set for Irish Derby: Today is the Saturday after the Epsom Derby on Wednesday. On the front page, Neville Ring looks forward to the Irish Sweeps Derby later in the month, and can’t see any winner other than Grundy. Don’t forget that Grundy is a course winner, having won the Irish 2000 Guineas last month. But Ring adds that Grundy’s trainer, Peter Walwyn, has not decided yet whether or not his champion will go back to the Curragh.
Currently there are 98 acceptors for the Irish Sweeps Derby, with the next declaration stage at June 24th, costing another £100 for each horse. Ring notices that, at the moment, the prize fund for the Irish Sweeps Derby is at £93,540. He expects the total value to top £100,000, also because the Racing Board will contribute 5% if there are eight or more runners.
Betting tax hiked to 6%: The Racing Board features in Valentine Lamb’s front page article. This week, the Dail passes stage two of the Racing Board and Racecourse (Amendment) Bill. Although there are still three stages to go, Lamb writes: “It is now virtually certain that the course betting levy with bookmakers will be raised by 1% to 6%.”
Lamb is impressed by the fact that Taoiseach Liam Cosgrave “had done his homework”. The managing editor is surprised to learn that, since 1969, total capital expenditure on Irish racecourses is £2.1 million, but the Racing Board has contributed £1.9 million of this, with the bulk being spent on the redevelopment of Leopardstown. Lamb writes: “It can be seen that little more than maintenance has been carried out at most courses.”
During the Dail debate, there is some comment on the 20% off-course betting tax rate. Desmond O’Malley, of Fianna Fail, says that this has led to an increase in illegal betting.
But the debate makes Lamb feel optimistic: “It was most refreshing to find all parties basically supporting the racing and breeding industry in this country, and there appeared a genuine desire to expand it rather than milk it.”
Grundy wins Epsom Derby: On Wednesday, Grundy wins the Epsom Derby. The report from regular correspondent Jonathan Powell is on page 20. Valentine Lamb also goes to Epsom, and his article is on page seven.
Lamb admits that, after watching the Irish 2000 Guineas, he believed that Grundy would not stay a mile and a half; but now is convinced he can get a mile and six. He especially praises the ride given by Pat Eddery, now 23 years of age: “Eddery rode him as if he had no worries about getting the 12 furlongs as he was always in the leading group.” Grundy wins by three lengths from Nobiliary, with Hunza Dancer in third. Grundy is owned by an Italian gentleman, Dr Carlo Vittadini.
The disappointing favourite is Green Dancer, who finishes sixth. He is ridden by Freddie Head, newly-married and actually on his honeymoon in London. “He simply ran out of gas. I knew at the top of the hill I could not win,” Head tells Powell after the race. “This was not his form. But he will be back. I promise you, this is a really great horse.”
Powell also writes about winning trainer Peter Walwyn. In the winners’ enclosure, Walwyn points to the press box in the stands and says: “None of them believed me, but I always knew he was a great horse.” When asked about the horse’s future plans, Walwyn says: “I don’t know about the horse, but I know what I’m doing. I’m going to have a jar or several.”
But Powell’s most enjoyable post-race comments come from Maurice Zilber, trainer of runner-up Nobiliary. He says: “To be a good trainer, you must have been a good professional gambler first. Then, when you have lost your money, you go into a room on your own and start to ask yourself some serious questions.”
Spanner in the works: Racing reports start with action at Gowran Park on Friday evening of last week. The evening is brought to life by the Jack Duggan Memorial Handicap Hurdle, over two miles. The top weight is Spanner, trained by Dermot Weld, with 12 stone, and the nine-year-old is the outsider of eight runners at 20/1.
Spanner looks beaten at the third last, but he finds extra in the straight. Peter Russell sends Spanner to the front after the last, and they win by a length and a half from Guest House. There is a stewards’ inquiry, with no alteration. But reporter Dave Baker believes that Spanner is rather fortunate to keep the race.
Treble for Roe: Leopardstown starts a two-day meeting on Saturday afternoon, and the going is good. The feature race is the Group 3 Player-Wills Stakes, worth £4,325, over a mile and a quarter. Sir Penfro is 1/2 favourite, but he can only finish fifth of the seven runners. The winner is Donna Cressida, ridden by Wally Swinburn and trained by Richard Annesley.
Another Group 3 today is the Ballyogan Stakes. There are four runners, and Boones Cabin wins at 4/9 favourite by a short-head from Willy Willy. Tommy Murphy is on board the winner, who is trained by Vincent O’Brien. Also among the winners is Johnny Roe, who rides Fille De Luxe to take the Kilroddery Stakes.
For the Bank Holiday Monday, the going at Leopardstown changes to good to firm. Today’s feature is the Players No 6 Handicap, over a mile and five, worth £1,709. Meadow Moss, a four-year-old by Levmoss, makes all the running. He is eased down near the line by Christy Roche and wins by three-quarters of a length.
Otherwise, the day belongs to Johnny Roe, who has a treble, on Swinging Tribe, Paddys Choice and Irish Star.
Today is also a red letter day for Miss Betty Carmody, older sister of leading apprentice Tommy Carmody. She has her first ride in public on Sunbeam Princess in the Loughlinstown Ladies Plate, and it’s a winning one. The 10/1 winner beats Monksfield and Mrs Helen McDonogh by six lengths.
Lady Rainbow hat-trick: Tramore hosts a three-day fixture starting on Saturday afternoon, and the going is firm on all three days. The feature race on Saturday is the Petersen-Rob Roy Amateur Handicap Hurdle, over two and a half miles, worth £552. The winner is Lady Rainbow, who is notching a hat-trick of handicap hurdle victories. The mare is ridden by Mr Ivan Keeling, and trained by John Kirwan. She is 13/8 joint favourite.
The opening maiden hurdle is over a mile and three-quarters, and is divided. The first race is won by Break Loose and Mouse Morris; while division two goes to Matty White, ridden by Tommy Kinane.
The Paddy Prendergast stable has a winner here on the Flat when Kilternan and Paddy Sullivan win the Mooncoin Handicap at 4/5 favourite; while the concluding two mile maiden for five-year-olds goes to Powder Box, trained by Clem Magnier and ridden by Jimmy Coogan, the winner at 4/5 favourite.
The going stays firm at Tramore on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon, and it is very windy. Again Mouse Morris wins the opening race as Quick Gift wins the two mile handicap chase.
The runner-up at Gowran on Friday evening, Guest House gets his reward today by winning the two mile Tramore Handicap Hurdle, ridden by Jackie Cullen. He is 5/2 joint favourite.
The feature race is the Chandeliers Handicap, over a mile and one furlong, worth £913. Victory goes to the Clem Magnier stable with his wife’s The Mole, a four-year-old, ridden by Benny Coogan. The winner is 5/2 joint favourite, and wins by two lengths from the other joint favourite, Taravic.
Ken Coogan gets in the winners’ enclosure after the Dunmore Maiden Plate, which he wins on board Lizann-Bar, the 4/6 favourite. The day concludes with a bumper, and Mr Jim Mernagh wins this on Low Flight, who is backed from evens into 8/13 favourite.
Imperial March wins Loder Stakes:The Phoenix Park stages racing on Wednesday evening. The going is firm. The feature race is the Loder Stakes, over a mile and a quarter, worth £1,141. This is won in impressive style by Imperial March, a son of Forli. Trained by Vincent O’Brien, and ridden by Tommy Murphy, Imperial March wins by six lengths.
Trainer Clem Magnier has another winner in his wife’s colours when Polly Chariot takes the Midsummer Handicap; and Tommy Carmody is back in the winners’ enclosure after Yellow Ribbon wins the Ashtown Handicap. Not victorious tonight is Dermot Weld, who trains the runner-up in five of the six races!
Shapiro at Leopardstown: In her weekly “Passing Parade” column, “Pandora” writes John D. Shapiro, President of Laurel Park racecourse, venue of the Washington DC International in November, is at Leopardstown. The original speculation is that Shapiro is at Leopardstown to attract runners for the big November race, but the real reason becomes known on Saturday night. Shapiro appears on The Late Late Show, which is a special edition marking the 55th birthday of Michael O’Hehir. It is a surprise for the legendary commentator.