DENIS Hogan has progressed through the grades with some high-profile performers like Sceptical and Make A Challenge in the last number years and his handicap revelation Meriden now looks well on her way to a crack at stakes company.
She routed her rivals in the €100,000 Neville Homes Summer Fillies Premier Handicap under Chris Hayes - bringing up a pretty spectacular fourth win on the bounce for owner Patrick O’Brien as the 7/2 joint-favourite.
The Bated Breath three-year-old was bought for 32,000gns at last year’s Tattersalls July Sale by Avenue Bloodstock from Juddmonte, and an 11lb rise for this win brings her to a new mark of 97. Her first win at Down Royal in May came off only 57.
Hogan said: “She only just about won the first day but has stepped up every day since - I don’t think she’ll be back in that grade anytime soon. She’s progressed from run to run and is just a filly in good form. She has a really good temperament and that helps - she’s had four runs in a month.
“I always wanted to run her on left-handed tracks but Joey [Sheridan] rode her here two starts and said she was dead-straight. She has a tendency to lean left and did it a little bit at halfway, but Chris did a great job. The stand’s side is often favoured here anyway. Well done to Patrick for purchasing her.”
O’Gorman’s magic touch
Jessica Harrington made it four winners in as many days when the talented but somewhat enigmatic Suspicious Mindz came good on his eighth attempt in the colours of Marcstown Farms Sc - sparked up by the combination of first-time cheekpieces and potentially by a new rider.
Having finished third in a listed event at Tipperary behind Royal Ascot winner Thesecretadversary and two-time Group 1 runner-up Brussels last season, the 170,000gns yearling buy had hinted at clear winning potential last season but didn’t look to be progressing on his previous start at Fairyhouse.
This was much more like it with a bold front-running performance when dropping in trip to six furlongs for the first time since his debut. He managed to cling on by a head from a rallying Starborn Legend to provide Jessica O’Gorman with a winner on her third ride for the Commonstown team.
Assistant trainer Kate Harrington said of the 11/1 winner (a major drifter from 4/1 in the morning): “He’s a lovely horse and we’ve always thought an awful lot of him, but he’s just been a bit of a monkey. We were so disappointed after his last run, so it was [owner Mark Chan’s racing manager] Jamie McCalmont’s idea to see if a girl’s touch might help. We said it to Shane [Foley] so he suggested to get Jessica to ride.
“He’s always shown an awful lot and every time he’s gotten that good quick ground, he has run really, really well.”
JOHNNY Murtagh didn’t manage to have a runner in this year’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, though he did still record a Derby double at the Curragh over the weekend with two excellently-placed winners.
Less than 24 hours on from Darius Dark’s victory in the Fitzpatrick’s Mercedes-Benz Apprentice Derby, Fixation ran out a decisive winner of the Reserve Ladies Derby under Georgie Benson, who was winning the race for the second time in six years.
The four-length winner was sparked by the addition of cheekpieces for the first time, building on a reasonable seventh in a competitive handicap here on Guineas weekend when previously seen. Sent off the well-backed 2/1 favourite, he carried the colours of JP Murtagh Racing but is part-owned by a group including professional punter Shane Reville, who rightfully sang the trainer’s praises in the immediate aftermath.
“Fixation is a grand little horse and has really improved,” said Murtagh.
“I thought he was a little bit unlucky last time in a better race and Shane rang me a couple of weeks ago and said ‘I think we should go for the Ladies Derby’.
“Shane is a good friend and this is his first horse with me. When I was riding, he helped me with the form. He’s pretty sharp and could give me an idea of the tempo in a race. Himself and the lads bought this horse, sent him to me and it’s great to have a winner for them here on Irish Derby weekend.”
Reville added: “A couple of the boys are with us today, Ian Murphy and Shane Grant, and Ian Marmion, who can’t be here, and Justin Murphy make up the five of us involved. This horse will take a hit for today but we could go to Galway if we find the right race. The plan, long-term, is to go up in trip and we’re working back from the Irish Champions Festival. I think he’ll improve for going further.
“Johnny used to say I helped him, but Johnny would never understand how he helped me to race-read from a jockey’s point of view. I ended up watching racing completely differently because of this man. He’s a fantastic trainer who gets every ounce out of every horse he has. He proved last year how he could progress through handicaps to listed and group company with his horses.”
Dusk dances in
Jack Foley is a man at the beginning of his training career and the-form Midnight Dusk’s win in the six-furlong Fitzpatrick’s Garage Group Handicap represented his biggest success yet.
Opening at 9/1 in the ring and returning at 11/2, Donnchadh Doyle’s three-year-old was one of the easiest winners of the day under Billy Lee - following up a recent Fairyhouse win with plenty of style.
Foley said of the three-and-a-quarter-length scorer: “Billy rode him last time and really liked him. He suggested coming to a straight track and he is clearly improving. He’s in the Tattersalls July Sale, so we’ll regroup and see after that.
“Billy loved him today, so I hope Donnchadh doesn’t sell him! The fact Billy was keen to ride him at that weight [8st 13lb], we were all for having him. He’s been a good help to us lately.”