AVIATRICE boosted her sales value with victory in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cooley Fillies Stakes over a mile on the Polytrack, to open a treble for David Marnane and Luke McAteer.
The consistent filly stepped up in class after landing a fillies’ handicap at Dundalk last month. Luke McAteer raced her behind the leaders and she took over a furlong and a half down. She was strong in the final furlong in beating Jancis by a length and a half at 7/2 for MRC International.
Marnane said: “She’s a brilliant filly and improving, she’s tough. She loves that surface and will make a better four-year-old. She’s in the December Mares Sale, so she is going to go there. It is the terms of the syndicate again. I would love if somebody bought her and kept her with us - that would be the dream.”
Manton Bay was next up for Marnane and McAteer in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden over a mile. He had kept on for sixth on debut in a Curragh maiden in September and went off 12/1 on this attempt at a longer trip.
From mid-division, he took closer order a quarter of a mile from home and closed by the furlong pole. McAteer soon guided him into a share of the lead and the pair kept on best to get up by a head close home for MRC International.
The trainer said: “Lovely eye-catching run in the Curragh, he stepped forward from it. I’d say he has a lot of scope, he grew a lot in the last sort of month. He is by Ulysses and will get further. Fingers crossed, he might get into a nice horse next year.”
Tokenomics travelled well on his way to justifying even-money favouritism in the Bar One Racing Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap over a mile.
Eyes were drawn to him in the final quarter of a mile and the four-year-old gelding was ridden to the front a furlong down. He stayed on well to fend off Diego El Queso by half a length for owner Niall Molloy.
Marnane said: “He’ll go on his holidays now, he deserves it, he has been on the go a while. It is a difficult thing to do, win a handicap off 98. It is a tough thing to do.
“I can’t wait to step him up in trip. I just think if he puts himself to sleep in races, he has got a good turn of foot, and he might be difficult (to beat) over a mile and a quarter. He won’t go any further than that.”
JUDDMONTE filly Prevalence made the breakthrough on her second start in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
The 11/4 shot raced in touch and was switched left by Colin Keane inside the final two furlongs when short of room. Keane conjured a good finish from the Dark Angel filly who came through to take over inside the final furlong. She kept on nicely to hold Astronomically by half a length.
Ger Lyons said: “Going to the start, I thought she was a bit on it. Then didn’t have the pace to hold her position and I said ‘for a small filly, you are going to have to be good now’ because he (Keane) had to take back and go. She was good and honest.
“The good news is, job done at two, and I can stop now. You won’t see her again before May.”
Hurdling on the horizon
Johnny’s Oasis was a ready winner of the Bar One Racing Bet Builder Boost Handicap to seal a double for Keane.
They raced in rear and were still fully ninth with two furlongs to travel. The three-year-old gelding made sustained headway to hit the front inside the final furlong and stretched away by three and three quarter lengths at 10/3 for owner Jimmy Fairhurst.
Ado McGuinness said: “The biggest thing I think with this horse is that he just needs a fast pace. He needs the race to collapse.
“I just told Colin to hunt away with him and that’s all he did. If they go fast, he is laughing, and that is exactly what happened. I think he’ll make into a nice hurdler during the summer next year.”
LUNIGIANA, who had been placed no less than seven times, got her head in front in the Bar One Racing Better On Football Maiden. Billy Lee held her up in rear and the 5/4 favourite travelled well a furlong and a half from home and grabbed the lead inside the furlong pole.
The daughter of Mehmas was kept up to her work and proved half a length too good for Woolridge at the line. Willie McCreery said: “She was unfortunate not to win a few times so when you get the job done, I’m just delighted for (owner) Renzo Forni who bred her. She’s booked in to City Of Troy.”
Laura Hourigan’s Unterberg (4/1) stayed on well for Wayne Hassett to claim the Bar One Racing Your No.1 Bookmaker Apprentice Handicap over a mile and a half. The six-year-old gelding was always prominent and strongly challenged 66/1 outsider My Vonnie a furlong from home. He soon led and ran on to beat that rival by a length and a quarter for the Novum Racing Club.
Hassett said: “He has been a pleasure to ride, he’s very uncomplicated once he goes steady and he has his own way. He has a good bit of boot.”