SUGAR Island proved too strong for her rivals in the featured Staffordstown Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Tuesday. Wayne Lordan’s mount proved easy to back in the Group 3 event, but the 5/1 shot made all for a two-and-three-quarter-length victory over Thundering On.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained filly was taking a drop in class having made little impression behind stablemate Precise in the Fillies Mile last time.
“Wayne gave her a lovely ride. She’s a big galloping filly that stays very well,” said stable representative Chris Armstrong afterwards.
“Last time in Newmarket it just didn’t work out for her on quick ground and we just put a line through it. She’s a filly with a touch of class and it’s lovely to get that stakes victory for her now and bring her back for an Oaks trial next year.”
Smart performance
Lordan had also struck on Ballydoyle newcomer Trojan Warrior in the opening Friarstown Stud Irish EBF Maiden. Go Just Do It looked to have the race in safekeeping when asserting over a furlong from home, but Trojan Warrior quickened up smartly inside the final furlong to post a length-and-a-half success.
Armstrong said: “It was an impressive win. He’s a fine big horse physically, looking at him walking around the ring. The penny has really only dropped with him at home in the last six weeks.
“Wayne felt in the last half-furlong, when he really got him gathered and got him galvanised, he really stretched for the line. He’ll be a lovely horse to come back next year, hopefully start in a trial and see where he goes.”
WAYNE Hassett moved one ahead in the apprentice title race when Dmaniac opened his account in fine style in the 1xbet.ie Safer Gambling Handicap.
Martin Hassett, granduncle of the rider, saddled the 7/2 favourite who led over two furlongs from home for a two-and-three-quarter-length win.
“It was all about the ground. We had a couple of frustrating runs as we were coming and the ground was called yielding and we were taking a chance, but the ground wasn’t yielding,” said Hassett.
“In fairness, the handicapper has dropped him. He’s been second in two good maidens here on soft ground and was entitled to do that on those runs. The most important thing was that Wayne got the winner to get him back in front. We’re throwing everything at it for him.”
First for Maurice
Dylan Browne McMonagle has a nice cushion at the head of the jockeys’ table and added another winner when 25/1 shot Perry Mason took the concluding 1xbet.ie Supports Irish Racing Handicap.
The Advertise gelding was produced to lead inside the final furlong and record a half-length win over Super Exceed, to give Dromahane handler Maurice Ahern his first winner.
Browne McMonagle said: “Maurice left it up to me, he thought he would run well. He felt like he was improving plenty at home. I had to come back and come around them and do it the hard way. He was good and tough to the line and hopefully he can go again.
“He was well prepared for the day and I’m delighted for connections, well done to all.”
SIRIUS gave owner/rider David Dunsdon another prestigious prize when taking the Al Basti Amateur Derby in fine style. The Willie Mullins-trained mare, winner of the big amateur handicap at Galway last year, went to post a 9/2 shot in the mile-and-a-half contest.
She travelled strongly to lead over a furlong from home and went on to post a three-and-a-quarter-length win over Smooth Tom.
“I’m delighted, it’s fantastic for David,” said Mullins. “She did it nicely over that trip. I was quite pleased considering she won over two miles at Galway last year, it was nice to be able to come back in trip.
“David had picked out this race about six months ago to aim for, so it was nice to be able to do this and he gave her a very well-judged ride. I’ll have to wait and hear what our next plan is!”
Syzygy completes hat-trick
The progressive Syzygy stayed on best in the Final Furlong Podcast Handicap to complete a hat-trick of wins. Ben Coen conjured a strong surge from the 10/3 shot as she got up late on to record a half-length win over Pillar Of Hope.
“She’s out of a Teofilo mare and they just seem to grow a leg on that ground,” said trainer Danny McLoughlin. “She was slow to learn but is improving all the time. Ben said today she knows she’s a racehorse now. In all fairness to the filly she had to be good and game and she was. Ben was excellent on her, as per usual.”
Sales bound
Likewhatyousee is set for the sales ring after opening her account in the Bill Hanlon Memorial Fillies Maiden for Cormac Farrell. Rory Cleary produced the 7/1 shot to lead inside the final furlong and record a three-quarter-length win over Eroico in the mile and a half contest.
“That’s great. It’s a big credit to all the lads at home. It’s always a team effort and we have fantastic riders and ground staff. You wouldn’t do it without them as I’m away at the sales a lot,” said Farrell.
“This filly is actually going to the sales next week so that was nice. She’s going to progress into a lovely filly next year, hopefully with a new owner. That’s really all I do, is sell them. It’s unusual that I even have a three-year-old racing.”