NATALIA Lupini and Ben Coen both registered a brace last Friday, with the pair combining to score with Eleven A in the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Series Maiden.
Owned by former jump jockeys Ben Dalton and Bryan Cooper, along with Lupini’s partner Craig Bryson, the Calyx bay was an encouraging fourth on debut at Leopardstown last month.
Positioned behind the leaders and ridden to challenge from the furlong pole, the 3/1 chance led inside the final 150 yards and kept on well from there to beat Lucia Molly (2/1 favourite) by a length and three quarters.
“He had a good debut at Leopardstown and he ran a bit too gassy throughout the race,” Lupini reflected. “He obviously has improved since the run and we always thought he was a nice horse.”
On his Group 2 entry at Leopardstown next weekend, she added: “We’ll see how he is through the week and hopefully we can run him. It will really test his abilities as a two-year-old and we still think he is going to improve massively from two to three. He is not a finished article.”
Natalia’s brace
The only three-year-old in the field and stepping markedly up in trip, Alba Chiara completed the 75/1 Lupini brace in the Grant Thornton Ulster Cesarewitch Handicap.
Reportedly ‘not acting on the track’, when a disappointing favourite on her most recent start at Ballinrobe, the 63-rated bay was sent off an 18/1 chance for this extended two-mile, two-furlong heat.
Given a patient ride by Wayne Hassett, she came with her challenge on the outer approaching the straight and was ridden to the front from the furlong pole, keeping on well from there to score by half a length from 5/4 favourite Billie Frechette, for owners Craig Bryson, Dougie Sloan and Tracey O’Hare.
“The pedigree suggested the step up in trip,” Lupini explained. “She was a big filly all along and we had to take our time with her. She is going to improve again from three to four.”
Coen Reigns supreme
Coen’s initial success came aboard the Johnny Murtagh-trained Killourney Reigns, with this one carrying the colours of the Rachra Partnership in the opening Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden.
With a first-time tongue strap deployed, the 6/4 favourite was never far from the pace and was pushed along to lead with over a furlong to go.
Soon ridden clear, he comfortably held off the late surge of Baker Blue (10/3 from 11/2 early), with a length and a quarter between them at the line.
“I knew from riding him at home he had plenty of speed. I thought he was the best horse coming here, so I rode him like that,” Coen remarked.
Areana and O’Gorman follow up on Naas win
JUST as they did at Naas less than a fortnight before, Areana (7/2 favourite) and Jessica O’Gorman once again dominated from the front in the Children’s Heartbeat Trust Apprentice Handicap.
Now two from two since joining Eddie and Patrick Harty, the 63-rated bay soon established a healthy advantage and, while her lead was reduced in the closing stages, she held on well to prevail by three quarters of a length.
“A lot of credit to Eamonn (Crawford, owner) for having confidence in retaining faith in her. She obviously showed him something early on that he persisted and fair dues as often you are not rewarded,” Patrick Harty commented. “She (O’Gorman) is very good and deserves to get more opportunities.”
Breaking through
Off the same mark of 63, Sovereign Thought (16/1) made the breakthrough in the Grant Thornton Nursery Handicap, as a late plunge on Zheleznaya Dama went astray.
Backed from 33s into 3/1 favouritism, the latter led with two furlongs to go, but ultimately faded in the closing stages and had to settle for third.
Never far from the pace under Gavin Ryan, the Donnacha O’Brien-trained victor was ridden to the front inside the final 200 yards and kept on well from there to score by a length and a half in the colours of the Thoroughbred Alliance Syndicate.
“Coming from stall nine, I would have been happy to be in fourth or fifth position. My guy has jumped very smart and got himself into a good position without using any energy,” Ryan disclosed. “He won a shade snug and ground that is slightly on the slow side played to his strengths.”
THE subject of a notable gamble when a beaten favourite on debut at the Curragh in July, Shadow Of The Moon was an easy winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
A runner-up on her most recent start, the John Feane-trained grey was widely expected to account for her rivals in this five-furlong heat and was returned the 8/11 favourite.
Soon tracking the leaders on the outer under Luke McAteer, the Paul Towell-owned three-year-old swept to the front with just over a furlong to go and readily increased her advantage, easing to a three-and-a-quarter-length win.
“She has a great attitude and a lovely temperament,” Feane enthused. “She won well and she’ll probably go for a handicap now.”
Smart performance
Favourite-backers had to settle for minor honours in the concluding Grant Thornton Handicap, with Mischief Man (3/1 favourite) finishing third to Tom McCourt’s Maxwell Smart.
A runner-up three times in recent months, the four-year-old was returned an 11/2 chance for McCourt’s wife Pauline, Donal O’Leary, James McNally and the Whyte’s Stamullen Syndicate.
Settled in mid-division by James Ryan, the 50-rated bay took closer order on the outer with over three furlongs to go and was pushed along to lead from the furlong pole.
Soon ridden, he battled on gamely in the closing stages and held off the effort of Tomahawk King by a neck.
“He has been very consistent and deserved to get his head in front. He was just getting nabbed and never beaten that far,” McCourt remarked.
“He got a good hike for being second in Bellewstown and I thought he might struggle after that, but the race went nicely today and he battled well enough.”