FORMER champion conditional jump jockey Jack Foley saddled his first winner since taking out a licence earlier this year when Liberation Date justified odds-on favouritism in the opening division of the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden.
The Donnchadh Doyle-owned filly was ridden to challenge over a furlong out by Luke McAteer and kept on well to reel in the leader in the closing stages and score by a neck. McAteer picked up a two-day ban for careless riding after his mount edged right under two furlongs out.
Foley said: “The horses have been running really well, and we have had plenty placed. She’s a big lady who is learning every day and is going to improve when she steps up in trip. As with all our horses, she is for sale.”
He added: “I loved my time riding, and I suppose this was the next step and I’m enjoying every minute of it. I have big support from Donnchadh who has provided me with a yard, and he has filled it as well.
“Donnchadh has been very busy buying yearlings at the sales, so we are going to have a good number of horses next year and it is exciting.”
Oliver gets gold
There was also a thrilling finish in division two where Gonna Be Golden, owned and trained by Andy Oliver, showed the leader about a furlong out and the pair battled it out with Chris Hayes’ mount just prevailing by a head.
“She had a nice run first time and worked well during the week,” said Oliver. “We think there is plenty of improvement, and she was green when she hit the front. I liked her attitude; the horse came to her and she found again.
“We will put her away and we’ll see for the beginning of the year - maybe start thinking of trials. It looks like she’ll get a mile.”
SHANE Foley partnered a double on the evening, initiated by Sovereign Cry in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race.
Trained by Danny Murphy for John O’Hagan, the 2/1 chance was just denied here last month but came out on the right side of the photo-finish on this occasion when getting up in the final stride to deny Final Melody by a short-head.
“He needed every yard of it and probably needs six or seven (furlongs),” said Murphy. “I could possibly put him away because he is still weak. He will be a nice horse.”
Indigo Dream, who previously filled the runner-up spot three times, completed the double when opening her account in the New Saddle Bar At Dundalk Stadium Maiden.
Dream realised
Trained by Ross O’Sullivan for Eleanora Kennedy, the 1/2 favourite struck the front over a furlong out and soon asserted to score by three and a half lengths with ease.
“She’s a filly we always liked from before she ever ran as a two-year-old,” Foley said. “She had a few little setbacks this year and Ross gave her all the time in the world and hopefully she can reap the benefits next year. She deserved that and I always thought she was a stakes filly.”
ORLA Tynan partnered her second winner as Bint Majestic Roi, trained by Andy Slattery for his nephew William, recorded a 50/1 shock in the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Apprentice Handicap.
Soundly beaten in five outings this year for Dermot Weld and Slattery, the 6,000gns purchase turned that around dropping down to a mile and finished best up the centre of the track to win by half a length.
“I was running her over the wrong trip,” said the Killenaule trainer. “I worked her with Cloudseeker last Monday in the Curragh - he’s going to Bahrain - and she worked savage.”
Queenie reigns
Little Queenie (7/2 joint favourite) gained her eighth career win and fifth at this venue when typically showing great pace throughout in the BAR 1 Betting Download New App Handicap.
The Mike Connolly-owned mare made all under Adam Grant, whose claim is now reduced to 7lb after partnering his third winner, holding on by half a length.
Winning trainer Paul Flynn said: “She’s so game. Ciara (Flynn, daughter) does all the work with her at home, and they get on great.
“There’s not much more unless we go to Newcastle (on Good Friday). It would suit her because she would like a stiff six. We probably won’t have much more time with her racing as they will possibly cover her next year.”
Bowman on target
The James Flaherty-owned Bowman recorded his 10th career win for various trainers and first since joining Charles Byrnes this summer when justifying strong support in the Gift Vouchers Available Online Handicap. The 11/4 chance, available at 6/1 overnight, finished strongly on the stands’ side under Seamie Heffernan to beat Sovereign Banter by a length.
Heffernan reported: “He ran a very good race the last night. I thought if the race panned out a bit differently the last night, I might have won.”
Back in form
Trishuli River bridged a gap of over a year without a win in the concluding mile and a half handicap, with the 10/1 shot asserting inside the final 150 yards under champion apprentice Wayne Hassett, to win by a length and three quarters.
“She has been breaking badly over a mile and two furlongs but Wayne was very good on her, and I think we’ll keep her at this trip,” said Shane Crawley who trains the mare for the Hon The River Syndicate.