LAST weekend’s Irish Champion Stakes-winning rider Shane Foley completed a Clonmel double on Wednesday, on the Tipperary course’s seasonal return to action.
Foley began by steering another winner for Hotazhell’s trainer Jessica Harrington, on Noble Honour (9/4) in the opening Clonmel Supporters Club (Fillies) Maiden.
Racing prominently, Foley produced the Siyouni filly to lead two furlongs out, before scoring by a half length from Shanala.
Regarding the Ace Stud-owned winner, Foley commented: “It was probably jockey and trainer error the last day, as we let her take her chance on quick ground, which didn’t work.
“Luckily enough, she looked after herself and she enjoyed the ease in the ground today.
“She is a filly we’ve always liked, but didn’t progress like we might have liked. She might now have a nice finish (to the year) on soft ground.”
Two races later, Foley completed his double on the Ken Condon-trained, Aprilis Partnership-owned Mare Crisium (9/2 joint-favourite) in the Suir Blueway Handicap.
Mare Crisium was short of room on the inner entering the home straight, but once runner-up Ochtar Againn left a gap along the running rail, none was more willing than Foley, who pushed his mount home by three-parts of a length.
Afterwards, Condon commented: “Shane had to wait for the gap to open, but he was never afraid to go up anyone’s inside!
“He said that when she got into it, she was able to hold it and, despite it getting tight, was able to find a bit and went away quite well.
“She has plenty size and scope, will stay in training next year and will probably run once more this year.”
TRAINER Joseph O’Brien added to his incredible recent haul, with Kakori (evens favourite) in the Slievenamon Maiden.
Ridden by Declan McDonogh, Kakori made most of the running to score readily from Therewillbeglory. Successful owners Newtown Anner Stud’s racing manager, P.J. Colville said: “We have tried a lot with this filly, we have gone every distance and ran in Laytown, so tried a bit of everything.
“She has eventually got her win and, while she isn’t ungenuine, we just struggled with her. There is a fair chance she’ll be covered by Beckford next year, although we’ll run her again before the season ends, as she handles an ease.”
Lee the leader
Jockeys’ championship leader Billy Lee continued his good recent spell with success on the Willie McCreery-trained Guys Girl (9/2), in the Camida Winning Solution Handicap.
Riding with typical patience, Lee moved the Ghaiyyath-filly into contention in the home straight and, having led inside the final furlong, scored by a neck from Reponse Finale.
McCreery reported: “That is very important as she has a lovely pedigree. Steve Fisher owns and bred her, so I’m delighted to get this win.
“She is four, is very small and knows she is very small, as she won’t go up through horses. They went hard, which suited and it is job done today.”
Regarding Lee, he added: “Billy gave her a lovely ride and I love giving him winners, as he is in two mornings a week, when he gets up at 5am. He is with me 14 years and is a great horseman and jockey.”
Flynn extends record
Montelado’s trainer Pat Flynn registered yet another success in the Tipperary Cup, run this year in memory of bookmaker Jerry McDonnell, scoring with his own Not Just Any Eagle (5/1), under Robyn Donaghue-Leahy.
The seven-year-old made all the running in the two-mile contest and held on well to score by four lengths from Lady Plimsoll.
Flynn reported: “I fancied him today, but some of my horses were under a cloud and there were some with temperatures.
“I was worried, but he was going particularly well. He is a very nice horse and we might go up into a big handicap now.”
Neighbours combine for success
SEAMUS Fahey combined with his neighbour, jockey Keithen Kennedy, for a first success together in the Camida Gold Champion Handicap, scoring with quirky Sinbad My Dad (9/2). Carrying the colours of Helen Butler, John Griffin and Bernadette Fahey, Sinbad My Dad finished with a rattle to score by two and a half lengths from Lough Leane.
Afterwards, Fahey reported: “The horse is a little bit of a rogue and is reluctant to go in to the stalls and is then slowly out. He has lots of ability, but looks after himself and we might go over hurdles with him.
“That is Keithen’s first winner for me, and he actually started off riding out for me. He is also from Monasterevin and is from a talented family, as his sister is a multiple world champion at Irish dancing.”
The ‘green and red of Mayo’ has been the sporting story of the summer and today, county trainer John Cullen notched a timely success with the Michael Barrett-owned Cornmarket (10/1), in the John Thomas McNamara Series (QR) Handicap.
Ridden by Lee Shanahan, Cornmarket showed plenty of stamina to score by a length and a half from Gallo Dell Cielo. Cullen, one of only a few Mayo trainers, reported: “Cornmarket is well handicapped on the flat and we said we’d give this distance a go. I fancied him, but thought he might be caught for toe, which he was coming down the hill, but he stays well and that won it.”
He added: “I’m based in Killala, Ballina in Mayo and am full-time training horses, although I’ve only recently recovered from a broken femur last Easter. I was previously a farrier, but am getting more into training now, and took over from my dad in 2018, so I’m looking for owners.”