PADDY Twomey had a fruitless time at Royal Ascot, but whenever the Golden-based trainer is in need of a pick-me-up, a visit to Ballinrobe invariably does the trick and his sole runner on the card, Deressa, duly obliged in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap.
The Aga Khan-bred daughter of Zarak, owned by Mel Sutcliffe, led close home under Billy Lee to beat Royal Hollow by a neck in the one mile, five furlong-contest and Twomey said of his 7/1 winner: “She probably needed her first run of the season and the step up in trip suited her.
“We were second in this last year with Elana Osorio, who went on to win the Give Thanks (Group 3) at Cork, and I’d like to think this filly has the class to follow a similar trajectory.”
The top weight’s victory further enhanced Twomey’s outstanding strike rate at the Mayo venue, with it now standing at nine flat winners from 11 runners since 2015.
Change of luck
Sam Coen had a mixed evening, unable to make the required weight and being substituted on his intended mount in the claimer before riding a winner on Daboya (6/1) in the Gain The Advantage Series Handicap over one mile, five furlongs.
Another Aga Khan-bred and former Dermot Weld inmate to be successful on the card, the Goatsbridge Syndicate’s five-year-old went on approaching the straight to post a comfortable three-length victory over Lagoon Nebula.
Trainer Dick Donohoe said: “She just takes a bit of time to come to hand every year. She can be a bit leery and behind the bridle, but today she travelled well for Sam. She’ll go back over hurdles before long and will probably go to Galway.”
It was a seventh winner of the campaign for 5lb-claimer Coen, who was hit with a four-day suspension for his earlier breach.
THE other five races on the card were all run over just short of a mile and a quarter and in the aforementioned claimer for three-year-olds, teenager Max Popan rode his first winner when making virtually all aboard 13/8 favourite Femme Beauty.
The Ghaiyyath filly, trained by Ken Condon for his wife Pauline, won readily by four and a half lengths from Cameclose.
A delighted Popan said: “It’s only my seventh ride and to have a winner is unbelievable. I’m from Kildare town and my parents are from Moldova originally.
“I went to RACE and then was with Conor O’Dwyer for a while, and also spent some time with Edward and Patrick Harty. I started riding out for Ken last year and he’s been very good to me.” The winner was subsequently claimed for €15,000 by trainer Ger O’Leary.
Wonderful winner
Winning hurdler Wonderfulwonderful (5/1) got off the mark on the level when making all to beat Camino Lad by half a length in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Owned by Rockview Stables, the Arizona filly was a third winner in four days for trainer John McConnell and jockey Jack Kearney reported: “She put her experience to good use and the first-time cheekpieces sharpened her up. This is my first winner for John, so hopefully it’s something we can build on.”
Nasrullah on the cards
The Lodge At Ashford Castle Maiden went to the Dermot Weld-trained Harana (2/1), who headed market leader Mano Chicago approaching the straight and drew clear to score by three and a half lengths.
Rider Chris Hayes, in the colours of the late Aga Khan, said: “She’s done it well, because she’s a big-actioned filly and was a hard enough ride on the turns.
“That’s a box ticked now and I’d like to think she can improve back in handicaps. She shouldn’t go up much for this and the Nasrullah at Leopardstown, a mile and one on nice ground, is the kind of race that I could see her run well in.”
ALWAYS close to the pace under Dylan Browne McMonagle, Merlin The Wizard (7/2) followed up his win in a Limerick claimer when beating Daler by a length and a quarter in the Michael Joyce Memorial Handicap.
Owned by Lorna Honan and her husband Chris Fennessy, along with Ronnie Quinn, the Camelot six-year-old is trained by Ray Cody, who commented: “I told Dylan to pop out and be handy, and he gave him a brilliant ride.
“I was happy watching it, because I knew it was going to be hard for the other fancied ones to come from the back. His owners are from Galway and that’s the plan for him now.”
Dylan doubles up
Last season’s champion jockey doubled up when 9/4 favourite Rodeo Drive readily landed the J.J. Burke Peugeot Handicap. Trained by Joseph O’Brien for the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate, Sean O’Driscoll and Middle Cow Unlimited, the Blue Point filly was the only winner on the card to come from off the pace.
In front approaching the straight, she ran wide on the home turn, but came clear down the stands’ side to readily beat Sands Castle by three and a quarter lengths.
Stable representative Michael Halford explained “She was a bit slowly away, but Dylan made a decisive move on her down the back straight. She has a tendency to lean left, but she’s done it well in the end and is a filly on the upgrade.”