FOZZY Stack’s Onenightidreamed, a dual Group 3 winner for his father Tommy, really came into his own in the spring and had plenty going for him in the Racing Again At Tipperary On April 20th Race on Tuesday, following his good third in the Heritage Stakes the previous week.
The 4/7 favourite handled the testing conditions well to pull out more once challenged by Master Speaker inside the distance and was kept up to his work by Chris Hayes in the black and pink colours of the New Pension Fund Syndicate to fend off his rival by two and a quarter lengths.
Stack observed: “He was entitled to do that. It didn’t really suit him being in from two furlongs down, but it was to draw the sting out of the others and he won snug enough. Chris said when the other horse came to him he was picking up again and, if the ground is soft, he’ll probably go for something like the Amethyst Stakes in Leopardstown. He wants every bit of that trip or a mile and he’s been a great servant.”
Returning from a 42-day suspension imposed at Dundalk, Tobacco Bay looked to be a nice filly when opening her account for trainer Johnny Murtagh and owner Paul Smith in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies’ Maiden.
Racing in the colours made famous by Kingston Hill, the 3/1 chance showed a good turn of foot to stretch away in the final 150 yards for a two and three-quarter-length win under Seamie Heffernan.
Murtagh commented: “She’s delicate, but she’s got ability. Seamie said she relaxed today and was able to finish off the race well, but I’ve no other plans for her. She’ll progress through the year and might make a stakes filly later on.
“She seems to be versatile and Seamie said she handled that ground (officially soft, soft to heavy in places), but she’s too genuine and just needs to relax and learn how to race the right way.” Market leader Jet Streaming, reported to be post-race normal apart from a few skin scrapes, could finish only fourth.
Tommy Hallinan headed the betting for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden, but proved disappointing when finishing only third behind Pecheurs De Perles (6/1) who gave Henry de Bromhead his first flat success, by one and a quarter lengths, in the hands of Wayne Lordan.
De Bromhead, who trains the Pour Moi gelding for his wife Heather, has two other three-year-olds and a few juveniles in his yard. He said: “Wayne just thought maybe the slightly better ground helped him today after he got stuck in Cork.”
“He was at him for a bit, so should get a mile and Wayne thinks he can get a mile and a quarter. I’m new to this game so I’m happy with that and he’s a grand big scopey horse.”
Dylan Hogan earned the praise of trainer Pat Fahy after riding his ninth winner aboard the versatile Head Turner for husband and wife Liam and Aisling Hurley from Vicarstown in Co Laois in the Premier County 50-75 Apprentice Handicap.
Kicking for home a furlong down, the 6/1 winner scored by two lengths at the expense of the favourite Mydor. Fahy said: “I declared him on soft to heavy, but the ground is probably drying out a good bit and she’s a big mare. Dylan rode work for me last week on the Curragh and came back with a good report.
“Leigh Roche got him for me and I loved his attitude. That’s his first ride for me and he was very professional. This mare might go to Punchestown where she’s in two races and that’ll be it – I’ll give her a break and come back for the end of the flat and try and get another one. She’s good to jump a fence and she’ll probably go chasing after that.”
MADE IT
Curragh-based handler Aidan Howard was quick to thank Conor O’Dwyer, Barry Cash and Blue Cross horsebox driver Jenny Lynch for their help in getting him back on the road again after his own box broke down on the motorway, half an hour into his journey on the way to the course.
The trainer was speaking after Not A Whisper, with champion jockey Pat Smullen in the saddle, had taken it up early in the straight on her way to justifying 15/8 favouritism in the first division of the Tipperaryraces.ie Handicap by one and three-quarter lengths.
Not A Whisper, owned by Margaret Miley from Dulavin, made strong late progress after running short of room on her previous outing at Leopardstown and Howard commented: “I was delighted with the way she came out of her race last time and I was hoping today didn’t come too soon.
“She handled the ground, got a good position and galloped all the way to the line. Barry Cash has done a great job in just getting her to settle over hurdles and I was actually thinking of stepping her up to a mile and looking at a handicap.”
The second leg of the contest went to the Billy Lee-ridden Dasheen who sprang a 10/1 surprise for her owner/trainer and equine therapist Lady Jane Gillespie in first time cheekpieces when wearing down Punches Pious in the last 50 yards for a narrow win.
The Bahamian Bounty four-year-old was formerly in the care of Mark Johnston and this was his first run for his current trainer who has 10 horses on the go at the moment at her Caledon, Co Tyrone base.
Lady Jane Gillespie’s assistant Adrian McAllister said: “We only got him recently at the sales and he had very good form in England. We stuck the cheekpieces on him and they seemed to work.”
Ballydoyle apprentice Ana O’Brien timed her challenge to perfection when bringing her brother Joseph’s Kalopsia home the length winner of the Follow @Tipperaryraces On Twitter Maiden in the colours of leading owner J.P. McManus.
The 20/1 shot was striking at her third attempt under flat rules when getting the better of the same owner’s 7/4 favourite Clear Skies, who had not been seen out since chasing home Alice Springs in a sales race at Newmarket 18 months earlier.
She is now with Aidan O’Brien who was well-pleased with her performance, commenting: “She has plenty of class and it’s nice to get her started.”
ACTING STEWARDS
Ms Kate Horgan, S. McDonogh, J. O’Shaughnessy, P. Dowling, M.F. O’Donoghue.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
MR SMITH (C. Byrnes): He did not travel early in the mile and a half apprentice handicap after being slow to get into stride, but stayed on well in the closing stages and flew at the finish to take fourth behind Head Turner. May appreciate a step up in trip.