THERE was a dramatic conclusion to the feature event at the Curragh last Friday night, with Thrice being awarded the Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes in the stewards’ room.
Reyenzi finished first past the post in the Group 3 contest, but hung right when coming to challenge a furlong from home, giving Emit a bump and also causing interference to Thrice as a result.
The Johnny Murtagh-trained colt emerged on top in a tight finish, scoring by a head from Thrice with the same margin back to Emit. Not surprisingly, an enquiry was soon announced and the decision was made to demote Reyenzi to third, behind his two rivals.
Thrice, who had made the running under Wayne Lordan, was rallying on the inner late on to press the winner and trainer Aidan O’Brien said of the Wootton Bassett colt: “He’s a tough, hardy horse. We ran him over a mile and a half in Chester and it was probably too far.
“I’d say a mile and a quarter is his trip, on a nice bit of ground. He got a right bump and he ran back at the line in all fairness to him. He’ll slot in there somewhere to a group race again.”
Royal Ascot on target
Ipanema Queen could be heading to Royal Ascot after making an impressive winning debut in the opening Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden. The Adrian Murray-trained filly attracted support from 14/1 in the morning, eventually going to post a 7/2 shot.
She was in front after a furlong, under Wayne Lordan, and asserted in style in the closing stages to post a comprehensive five-and-a-half-length win.
Assistant Robson Aguiar said of her afterwards: “She’s a nice filly. She was ready to run early on, but then she got a little bit weak and we gave her a little break. She was well coming here, but I’d say she was only 75 percent today and there should be a little bit more to come.
“We like her and have her entered for the Group 2 here on Derby weekend (Balanchine Stakes). We wanted to run today because, if she did well, we would try and run her in the Albany at Ascot. That’s the plan.”
STAKES company could also be next for Fingerpaint, after she made a winning debut in the McGuinness Maintenance Irish EBF Maiden. The Juddmonte-owned filly got going late under Chris Hayes to nab Collecting Coin close home for a neck success.
Trainer Dermot Weld said of the Kingman filly: “She’s a big powerful filly and I thought she’d run a very nice race, she’d been working well.
“We’ll see how she comes out of the race and speak with Barry (Mahon) and Prince Khalid’s family and then decide where we go. I’d say she’s most likely to move up to stakes level.”
Bright future
In the other maiden on the card, the QuinnBet-sponsored fillies’ event over six furlongs, Bonus Time also hinted at a bright future with a cosy success.
Gary Carroll did the steering on the Gavin Cromwell-trained charge and was prominent throughout on the 11/8 shot. He went for home over a furlong out on Noel O’Callaghan’s filly, as she posted a length and three-quarters success over Cold Hearted.
Carroll reported: “She’s very professional. She got a little bit lonely when she hit the front. I was coasting to the furlong pole when Billy (Lee on Naoi) dropped off, I gave her a squeeze then and away with her.
“I think she’s a smart filly. I don’t know the plan, she could go to Ascot or somewhere like that. She’s above average.”
DONEGAL-based trainer Paul Sweeney saddled his first winner since taking out his own licence, when Ransom ran out a cosy winner of the concluding Ryans Cleaning Handicap. The Kingman colt was produced by Luke McAteer to lead inside the final furlong and the 20/1 shot went on to post a cosy length and a quarter success.
“I’ve been claiming horses for the last four or five years. I had a couple in with Dick Donohoe and he is a good man, he gives me advice on what to do and what way to improve them,” said Sweeney afterwards.
On having his first winner, he added: “You couldn’t ask for any more, on Guineas weekend. That’s what it’s all about.”
Breakthrough winner
Moltophino also picked a nice place to make the breakthrough, when taking the €50,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Habitat Handicap for John Kinsella. The Profitable gelding had been placed six times previously and made no mistake this time, leading a furlong-and-a-half from home under Chris Hayes to secure a cosy three-length win over Keke.
“It’s a good way to break your maiden,” said Kinsella. “He’s been very unlucky, he’s always bumped into one or found traffic or something.”
Premier handicaps on the horizon
Earlier on the card, Brigid’s Cloak was another one to run out a decisive winner of a competitive-looking event, in the Cavalor Equine Irish EBF Fillies’ Handicap.
Patrick McGettigan asked his mount to quicken away over a furlong from home and the 6/1 shot soon settled matters, going on to post a cosy four-and-a-quarter-length winning margin.
Johnny Murtagh trains the winner for the Nick Bradley Racing Club and he said: “We freshened her up and this looked like an ideal race for her. She’s improving and hopefully she’ll keep improving, because we paid plenty for her as a yearling.
“Hopefully, she’ll develop into the filly we think she will be. We’re probably looking at premier handicaps now.”