ON his favoured soft ground Maker Of Kings showed that he is one of the most formidable pattern class operators around as he turned the Group 3 Coolmore U S Navy Flag Concorde Stakes into an utterly one-sided affair at Tipperary on Monday.
As the winner of the Amethyst Stakes in May before taking second in the Meld Stakes a couple of months later, the Ger Lyons-trained four-year-old lined up with already rock-solid credentials. He duly enjoyed a straightforward triumph to enhance his standing as a very decent performer at this level, although the manner of this success would suggest that he could fly higher still next year.
It was all smooth sailing through calm waters for Colin Keane who produced the Newtown Anner Stud-owned son of Zoffany to lead well over a furlong out and Maker Of Kings (5/2) then stormed clear of Carrytheone to reach the line with five and a half lengths to spare.
“This is his ground and, as Colin said, he is probably better than a Group 3 horse on that ground. He’s been a superstar for us all season and he is only improving with age,” declared the trainer’s brother Shane.
Memorable
Apprentice Daniel King has enjoyed a memorable start to October and after notching up the first success of his career at Killarney on Saturday he followed up on another Denis Hogan inmate, Plum Perfect, in the first divide of the 45-65 rated handicap over an extended seven furlongs.
The Dan Hallissey-owned Galway Festival winner enjoyed an easy success here as she led over a furlong out and crossed the line some five and a half lengths clear of Business Speak.
Best tally
Gavin Cromwell set a new personal best tally for winners in an Irish flat season as Yafordadoe (13/2) moved him on to the 13-winner mark in the nine-furlong handicap.
The useful five-year-old, who chased home Rebellito in a premier handicap at Listowel last time, was always well placed for Gary Carroll. He held every chance from the turn in and stuck to his task well to defeat Big Island by a length and a quarter.
He will have options over hurdles now but may well be able to win again on the flat.
Double for Hayes
CHRIS Hayes made a brisk start to proceedings with an opening race double which was achieved aboard a pair of decent types.
The second of these to strike was Fozzy Stack’s Ahandfulofsummers who took advantage of a dramatic drop in grade on her first run since finishing seventh in the Irish Oaks by registering a clear cut success in the Irish EBF Supporting Treo Eile Fillies Maiden over nine furlongs.
The Cayton Park Stud-owned daughter of Galileo readily stamped her class on this race over the last furlong and a half to win by three and a half lengths. A return to stakes level will be next for the daughter of Galileo who was placed at Group 3 level as a juvenile.
Hayes enjoyed his opening winner aboard the Dermot Weld-trained Enthrallment (7/2) in the nine-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
As he looked to build on a respectable debut at the Curragh in late August the son of Fastnet Rock was being pushed along before the straight but he stuck to his task in tenacious fashion to gradually close in on the leaders.
Enthrallment showed that he relished every yard of this trip by getting on top well inside the last furlong for a three-quarter-length success over Zoffman. The Group 3 Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown later this month could be next for the Newtown Anner Stud-owned colt.
THE last three races on the card went to Billy Lee who teamed with Ken Condon for two of those victories and the pair could have a nice sprinter to look forward to in Moss Tucker (4/1).
The Charlie Bit Me Syndicate-owned gelding was having his first try at five furlongs in what looked a reasonably well-contested handicap and he produced a nice display from the front to register a smooth three-and-a-quarter-length success over Iva Batt. This son of Excelebration has progressed as he has come down in trip this term and could well have more to offer in 2022.
“That’s him for the season. He has been busy and he has gotten quicker and sharper with racing. He handles most types of ground and will be a nice four-year-old to have in the sprint handicap division,” declared Condon.
The trainer and Billy Lee also landed the five-furlong maiden with the 76-rated Swift Flight. Owned and bred by Romanised’s owner Robert Ng, this son of Fast Company came with a strong charge to lead inside the last furlong and defeat Notoriously Risky by two and a half lengths.
This was a deserved success for the three-year-old whose previous four starts had all suggested that he was on the cusp of an initial victory. Condon indicated that Swift Flight was also likely to be put away until next year.
Course specialist
Billy Lee’s treble began courtesy of the track specialist Cracking Name in the second division of the 45-65 rated handicap over an extended seven furlongs.
Now a winner over this course and distance for five years in a row, the 8/1 shot came over to race alone against the stand’s side from the turn in which set her up for a two-and-a-quarter-length success over Hot Bell.
The Cracking Name Syndicate-owned seven-year-old is likely to have one more outing this season, according to trainer David Marnane.