BRYANT and Carolina Jetstream took the two feature races to provide trainer Robson De Aguiar and owner Amo Racing with a double on the Friday evening fixture at the Polytrack.
Bryant led home a 1-2 for connections when justifying 11/8 favouritism in the two-mile Irishinjuredjockeys.com Rated Race and in the process booked his place at All-Weather Finals Day on Good Friday in Newcastle.
Stablemate Dallas Star set a steady pace until the tempo increased entering the home straight and Wayne Lordan got Bryant to the front over a furlong out.
The Wootton Bassett colt kept on well inside the final 150 yards to beat Dallas Star by a length and a half with Tribal Star a further four lengths back in third.
“He’s a horse that is improving with every run. He’s still big and a little bit narrow, so I think June/July he will be a proper horse. I will give him a little break now and he will go to Newcastle on Good Friday,” said De Aguiar.
“He had to come here today to have his third run to qualify for that and I’m very happy with what he did.”
On runner-up Dallas Star, he added: “I’m happy with him because he needed the run today. He’s carrying a little bit of condition, and we are trying to get him fit for the turf start.
“He could go for the race he ran in at Ascot over two miles and six furlongs (Queen Alexandra Stakes) and could be better because he has been gelded.”
Making most
Carolina Jetstream (11/4) made most of the running to complete the double in the seven-furlong Deals Available At Dundalk Stadium Rated Race.
Donagh O’Connor’s mount was soon in front and after being strongly pressed from well over a furlong out, asserted in the closing stages to beat Little Empire by three quarters of a length.
“She will probably go to Newcastle as well, for the mile, and I will try and get blacktype with her next season. When she learns how to race, I think she will stay a mile and two no problem.
“At the moment, she needs to run over seven or a mile because she is a little bit fresh. I think there is a lot of improvement when she matures,” said De Aguiar.
McGuinness’ Dundalk double
ADO McGuinness was another trainer to record a double on the card via Clonmacash and Jawhary. Sam Coen has built up a successful partnership with Clonmacash and recorded a fourth win on the gelding in the past 12 months in the Book Online At DundalkStadium.com Handicap.
The Mark Devlin-owned 100/30 favourite made smooth headway between horses to challenge over a furlong out and kept on strongly to beat Velvet Skies by a comfortable two and a half lengths.
The trainer’s son Tadhg said, “He is a money spinner, and was just unlucky the last day. Sam gave him a great ride there this evening and is very strong for his claim. He’s a good, fun horse to have in the yard.”
Thrilling finish
Jawhary completed a near 18/1 double when just coming out on top in a thrilling finish to the mile and a half View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.
There were plenty still in contention just over a furlong out and Declan McDonogh’s mount just proved strongest at the business end holding off Mischief Man by a head.
“He went up 4lb for winning the last day and I’m sure he will go up another few. Declan said he was strong at the line and wouldn’t even mind trying him over further,” said Tadhg McGuinness of the 100/30 favourite owned in partnership by Stephen Reddy and William Mullahy.
Revelation
McGuinness was denied a treble when Exquisite Acclaim went down by a length and a quarter to Ocean Manifest in the BAR 1 Betting Download Our New App Handicap. The 100/30 winner found plenty when asked for an effort by Jack Kearney over a furlong out.
Trainer Stephen Thorne said: “He had a breathing operation last April, so it has just taken a bit of time to get the confidence back into the horse. He has been a revelation this winter, holding his form really well.
“Delighted for John Kirkland and his wife Jeanette, and also Jim and Geraldine Ryan who have been great supporters.
“He’s a real good-ground horse and wants a flat track. He’s definitely a better horse over the mile and could go to Lingfield.”
REESE Holohan had his claim reduced to 7lb after partnering his third winner aboard Dontspoilasale in the Floodlit Fridays At Dundalk Handicap.
The Denis Hogan-trained gelding made all in this six-furlong event and kept on well inside the final furlong to beat Go Out by three-quarters of a length.
“Even though he is high in the handicap, he runs to his mark all the time. We’ll keep him busy and coming up to the end of Dundalk, we might land him in a claimer or two and see if anyone else wants to have a look at him,” said owner James McAuley of the well-backed 15/8 favourite.
“He has been a brilliant servant for us. Reese is a kid riding with confidence and the 10lb makes a big difference.”
Stepping up
Gallo Dell Cielo added to a victory here last month when successfully stepping up to two miles in the View Restaurant At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.
Trained by Pat Flynn for Jeffrey Mahany, the easy-to-back 6/1 chance was sent to the front early in the straight and got well on top inside the final furlong to beat Black Gem by three lengths.
Winning rider Robyn Donaghue-Leahy said: “He’s starting to settle a lot more now and giving himself a chance to get the trip.
“He has a bit more turn of foot than the rest of those two milers and is getting plenty of confidence from it. I’d say he will stay at that trip now.”