GOODIE Two Shoes marked herself out as a progressive stayer when forging home in His Majesty’s Plate over two miles at Down Royal.
Joseph O’Brien’s charge romped in by six lengths in listed company in Gowran Park just over three weeks ago which saw her go off 3/1 favourite for this assignment.
Dylan Browne McMonagle settled her behind the leaders and she took closer order six furlongs out. The Fastnet Rock mare came through to dispute the lead with Dallas Star a quarter of a mile from home and soon took over.
La Isla Mujeres loomed large inside the final furlong, but Goodie Two Shoes was strong at the business end as she took the honours by a length and a half for J.P. McManus.
Browne McMonagle said: “She relaxed good and quickened up well, she has got plenty of class and she got to the line good. She’s improving all the time and handles quick ground. She stays the two miles good and we were hoping for a good run.”
Iconic duo
O’Brien and Browne McMonagle also teamed up with winning favourite Angelo Pio in the BoyleSports Best Odds Guaranteed Maiden over the extended 10 furlongs.
The 2/1 shot tracked throughout and disputed the lead two furlongs down. Once he took sole command a furlong and a half out, the Sottsass colt took the race by the scruff of the neck and swept home by two and a quarter lengths for the Treacys ownership.
The jockey said: “I was caught a little bit wider than ideal, but we travelled around good and I just kept it simple on him. He quickened up good and won well.”
CHRIS Hayes doubled up on fast-finishing On A Session in the BoyleSports Extra Places Every Day Handicap over seven furlongs.
The nine-year-old gelding was held up towards rear and came with a run between horses two furlongs down. He challenged inside the final furlong and led narrowly in the closing stages. He kept on best to win by half a length at 13/2 for owner Thomas McGrath.
Kieran Cotter said: “Plenty of ability and he has had a good long career in England. He had a bit of an injury there that had him out for a year and he came to me at the start of this year. We have freshened him up and whatever.
“If he could sneak into a premier handicap somewhere, and Garry (O’Gorman, Irish handicapper) isn’t too hard on him, I imagine that is where we would go.”
Rajala romps home
Hayes was successful on Rajala in the preceding race on the card – the BoyleSports Pick Your Place Fillies Maiden – for Dermot Weld and Jastar Capital Limited.
The three-year-old daughter of Lope De Vega raced prominently on her second start and got on terms with Naoi over a quarter of a mile from home.
She led narrowly a furlong and a half out and, although strongly pressed by Lil’ Angel at the furlong pole, kept on well in the closing stages to score by a neck at 13/2.
Hayes said: “I’d have happily made it but Billy (Lee on Naoi) went across and he had a bit more experience, and she was the favourite. I got a lovely run around, I pushed on good and early. I wanted her to hit the road right and then you have kind of a short straight then on the inside line that we are on.”
THERE was a major shock in the five fulongs BoyleSports Money Back If 2nd To SP Handicap when 66/1 outsider Arctic Steps won by a neck for trainer Jennifer Anne Lynch and owner Anderson Correa De Oliveira.
Rory Cleary brought her into the fray approaching the final furlong and she led narrowly just inside that marker. She was nothing if not game in the closing stages as she prevailed by a neck and a short-head from Billie Be Quick and El Fontenaro respectively.
Cleary said: “Jumped fairly smart and followed a strong gallop early on. She followed them really well and it opened up for her after the road. She stayed at it well to the line.”
Defeating the Undefeatable
Eric Lock held on by a nose under a strong Colin Keane drive at the end of seven furlongs in the BoyleSports Home Of The Early Payout Handicap for Noel Meade Racing Ltd.
The 11/2 shot was pressed in the closing stages by Bamako and Undefeatable, and pipped the former with the latter just a head away in third.
Meade said: “It is a long time coming. I’d say seven (furlongs) is just pushing it - five is too short and I’d say six is about right.
“He had a couple of quick runs and we gave him a little break. Hopefully now that he has got his head in front, maybe he will go on and win again somewhere.”
On the line
Navy Waters (4/1) put her head on the line to beat gambled-on First Ascent (40/1-16/1) by a nose in the BoyleSports Smart Race Card Maiden over an extended mile and two furlongs for owner Miceal Martin Sammon.
She moved into contention for Nathan Crosse racing to the final furlong and finished her race off well to grab the first prize.
Willie McCreery said: “Two lovely runs (runner-up at Limerick and Ballinrobe) and I just put the visor on her because she didn’t help Nathan the last time in Ballinrobe, and I thought she travelled lovely today. It was a real sprint from the corner and she put her head down on the right spot”
Robbie Colgan picked up a three-day ban for frequency with the whip aboard the runner-up.