THE opening Irish EBF Auction Series Race was the feature of Cork’s Wednesday evening card, where The Scallionator justified 4/7 favouritism enabling Wesley Joyce to ride out his claim.
Michael Mulvany’s colt controlled the pace throughout before asserting inside the final furlong to score unchallenged by two lengths for the Clearys syndicate. Nation Blaze stayed on to take second close home.
Wesley Joyce, who turns 24 next month, said: “From going around housing estates on ponies in Limerick to doing this today, is a big achievement for me.
“A big thanks to Mick Mulvany and to Johnny Murtagh, who was so good to me early in my career. Doing bottom-weight is no trouble; I don’t even own a weighing scales. I just come racing and enjoy it.
“The next step is to find that good horse who will bring me to the next level.”
Mulvany added: “I have given Wesley a lot of his winners and it is nice for him to do this.
“Things have happened along the way, but he is my stable jockey now. He came here to qualify him for the final of the series at Naas (October 11th).”
Lordan in double time
Wayne Lordan began a double aboard the Aidan O’Brien-trained Marco Polo (1/8), who dropped back to maiden company to score emphatically in the Coolmore Stud Gleneagles Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden.
He took command of this contest from the outset, increased the tempo from halfway and, racing in Michael Tabor’s colours, stretched clear readily inside the final furlong to beat Jungle Wise by five and a half lengths.
“He had a very good run first time, so Aidan pitched him in the Gimcrack. He was very keen and did everything wrong at York, so we put a line through that,” reported stable assistant Chris Armstrong.
“Wayne said coming back to five (furlongs) would be no problem. It wouldn’t surprise me if he pitched up in the Middle Park Stakes.”
On the ball
Lordan completed his brace on Laura Hourigan’s She’s On The Ball (7) in Cork’s Follow Us On X Handicap.
The Novum Racing Club’s filly was sent for home two furlongs out and battled on to prevail by half a length from the closing Cisterna.
“She bunny-hopped out of the stalls the last day. Robbie Colgan told me to put a tongue-tie on and it helped,” reported winning trainer Laura Hourigan.
“My brother Paul picked her out cheaply in England. He gets them and I see if they’re good enough to keep going.”
ALPINE Wedding (100/30) collected a €50,000 Goffs Orby Book 1 bonus, as she scored on her fifth start in Cork’s Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Entered in today’s Listed Ingabelle Stakes, she raced prominently on the stand side and kicked clear just under two furlongs out.
Owned by Patrick Hale, she kept on strongly in the final furlong under Billy Lee to win by three and a quarter lengths from Haven.
Winning trainer Paddy Twomey commented: “Paddy Hale worked with Goffs, so it was great to get €50,000 back. I think she is a classy filly, who will be a better three-year-old.
“Billy thought she could run again this season and there are a few fillies’ stakes races for her. She’s also in the Goffs Million, so that is a live option too.”
Impressive success
Enigma Code (11/4 - 7/4) was another impressive maiden winner, as he captured the Follow Us On Social Media Maiden in eye-catching fashion.
Gary Carroll tracked the 11/10 favourite Almeiyda before switching the Enigma Code Partnership-owned son of Havana Grey left under two furlongs out.
Once the penny dropped, John Murphy’s colt erased River Trieux’s three-length advantage within a few strides and drew away to win by a length and a half.
George Murphy, assistant and son of winning trainer John Murphy, commented: “He did it very well in the end. I thought we were in trouble, but got motoring in the last furlong. We might look at a winners’ or listed race next.”
TOKYO Treasure broke his maiden at the eighth attempt, with a gutsy effort in the Follow Us On Instagram Handicap.
Joey Sheridan’s mount led the stands-side group in the early stages, but he was about four lengths down after two furlongs.
The Ben Browne-owned 11/1 shot stayed on strongly against the rail to get up by a neck from Nouvel Espoir.
Winning trainer Patrick Foley commented: “He deserves that. We dropped him in distance today, he has the early speed for six (furlongs) and we’ll keep him at that now.
“That’s my first winner for Jim Browne’s son Ben, so I’m delighted to get it. I’d love to keep him for as long as possible though and, if he isn’t sold, could also go for a €100,000 Curragh handicap next.”
Star springs surprise
Star Strewn sprang a surprise in the finale at odds of 40/1 in the Racing Again September 29th Handicap.
Owned by Adam Potts, Cormac Farrell and B Sheerin, this three-year-old filly broke sharply and made all under Rory Cleary. She fended off the 100/30 favourite Highbury See See to win by a neck.
The winning rider reported: “She won a maiden for Ado McGuinness and afterwards came back to Cormac (Farrell) on a break, and her same owners (Adam Potts and Brian Sheerin) kept her with him.
“She showed plenty early in her career, showed her true colours today and should improve again.”