GER Lyons and Colin Keane recorded a double on the opening day of Irish Derby weekend on Friday. Quadruple, owned by the latter’s new retainers Juddmonte, won the featured JJ Mahon & Sons Handicap over seven furlongs.
Sent off 12/1, the four-year-old led for most of the race, and kept on well to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Exquisite Acclaim who was no match for the winner in the closing stages.
Lyons later commented: “She’s in the sales at Newmarket, so Rory and Barry (Mahon) will discuss that. We always thought she was a blacktype filly. She was doing a job in Navan the last day and it didn’t work out, so we can draw a line through that.
“That’s more like it now and we’ve a decision to make in the next few days. It’s all about the drop in class and being in your own grade, that’s what racing is about.”
Opening act
Earlier on the card, Learntodiscover (7/2) had initiated the brace for Lyons and Keane, when winning the six-furlong opening Lock 13 Gastropub & Brewpub Irish EBF Maiden.
Carrying the colours of Mark Dobbin, the Havana Grey two-year-old kept on well to beat favourite Puerto Rico by a neck.
Lyons said: “Box ticked, I’d say Ryan (Moore) was a little bit unlucky. It wasn’t a wow performance. He’s a horse that we like, but I was probably a tad disappointed with the performance.
“I didn’t like his head carriage in the last furlong, whether that’s conditions or whatever. I don’t think he hit the line as strong as you’d like him to hit it if he’s going to go forward into the next level, so let’s just see.”
Hopeful
Pillar Of Hope won the Fitzpatrick’s Mercedes-Benz Apprentice Derby Handicap over a mile and a half for owner/trainer Paul Sweeney. Ridden by fellow Donegal man Patrick McGettigan, the 14/1 chance overcame trouble in running to prevail by a length and a half from Fortuna Vera.
Sweeney reported: “It was nice to get it on Derby weekend. You couldn’t beat it, you couldn’t make it up. I bought this horse in Tattersalls two years ago. Young Patrick is from Donegal and he used to ride out for me in Letterkenny. It’s a Donegal experience!
“I’ve been into horses for about 10 years and claiming horses. I have 11 horses altogether and three in with Dick (Donohoe). I think it’s enough. The pastime is becoming the full-time.”
RORY Devine sent out the first winner of his fledgling training career as She’s A Nation ran out an impressive five-length winner of the Silken Thomas Kildare Town Irish EBF Median Auction Maiden over a mile, beating Made U Blush (7/4). Luke McAteer was on board the 25/1 chance, who scored easily in the colours of P.J. Kavanagh.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Devine. “Her homework was very good and coming here today we thought she had a good each-way chance if nothing else. It’s great to have my first winner here.
“I rent a small yard off the Shark (Hanlon) and we have 10 in at the minute. We are tipping away between flat and National Hunt. She’s only our third runner and I don’t have the licence that long. I rode amateur for years, and have been in the game, so this is sort of the natural progression.”
Hurdling option
Moonhall Church won the one-mile James Nolan’s Bar Kildare Town Handicap for trainer Alan McIntyre. Leigh Roche partnered the 12/1 chance to land a three-quarter length success over 100/30 favourite Empress Artemis for owner Ruth McCreery.
“It means a lot to have a winner here, especially on Derby weekend,” said McIntyre. “She’s a filly that’s owned by my mother. I’d say she improved plenty from two to three.
“I thought it was a good run in Leopardstown the last day and I was just hoping that she’d come on from it and do what she did there today. She’s by Churchill and I’d say you could even go hurdling with her, she likes soft ground. If I still have her, that might be an option.”
COMPOSING stepped forward from her debut run to win the seven-furlong O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Irish EBF Fillies Maiden for Aidan O’Brien and Wayne Lordan.
Sent off 3/1, the Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith, Westerberg-owned filly made all for a three-quarter length victory over a challenging Cape Sounion (2/1 favourite).
O’Brien said: “I’m delighted with her, she came forward lovely from her last run. Wayne’s filly is lovely and straightforward and he gave her a lovely ride.
“She’s a filly that will get further, she’s uncomplicated. Wayne said she went to the line with her ears pricked and she probably has the makings of a lovely filly.”
Big Mouse
Andy Oliver and Billy Lee were also amongst the winners as Our Friend Mouse landed the mile and a quarter Diageo Luxury Spirits Irish EBF Maiden. Having belied a market drift (2/1-9/2), the Roving Swan Partnership-owned gelding stayed on best to beat a rallying Game Point (100/30) by a neck.
“He’s a lovely big horse, but very big. He had a very nice debut run but was green,” said Oliver. “Billy gave him a perfect ride, arrived at the right time, but when he got there he was just a wee bit green again.
“I didn’t come here to get beaten, I was very hopeful we’d win and the race went perfectly to plan. He is filling out and I think he has improved physically since his last run. His future is yet to come. We haven’t made any plans beyond this and we’ll see what turns up.”
Corinthian Challenge
Mohammed Al Attiyah won the Corinthian Challenge Charity Race Series on the Joseph O’Brien-trained Prairie Dancer. Sent off 16/5, the Sean Sweeney and Kieran O’Hare-owned victor prevailed by a length and a half.