FRIDAY ended up being quite the day for jockeys’ title contender Dylan Browne McMonagle, as he won on all three mounts at Dundalk having not been intending to ride at the all-weather meeting at all.
The Letterkenny rider travelled to England on Friday morning, where he was due to partner Queen Of Hawaii for Joseph O’Brien in the Fillies Mile at Newmarket.
After she was scratched from that Group 1 contest, Browne McMonagle switched to plan B and hotfooted it back to Ireland where he took over on three Joseph O’Brien-trained horses at Dundalk.
All three were successful as Browne McMonagle took a big step to becoming Irish champion jockey by extending his lead in the jockeys’ table over Colin Keane, who did ride in Newmarket that afternoon.
Andab (11/10 favourite) was the centrepiece of the treble when taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Star Appeal Stakes, which had been rescheduled having been part of the cancelled meeting the previous Friday.
After some creditable efforts in defeat in pattern company, the winner led entering the final furlong to beat stablemate Which Wolf Wins by a length and a half.
Owned by Al Shaqab Racing and his breeder Trevor Stewart, the Saxon Warrior colt had been runner-up in a Group 3 at Deauville on his previous start.
Brown McMonagle said: “He was dropping back in class. When I put him into gear into the straight, he quickened up really well and probably waited a little bit when he got to the front. I think he’ll get a mile, he’s a very relaxed horse.”
Dundalk Ruler
Jungle Ruler (20/1) was Browne McMonagle’s first winner as he made a winning debut in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series (C&G) Maiden.
The Lucky Vega gelding, trained by Joseph O’Brien for Forz Europe Limited, led a furlong out and scored by a length and a half from Aqua Bear.
“He jumped and travelled and was like a handicapper,” said the winning jockey. The winner had been fifth in a barrier trial and, when asked if that helped, he added: “Definitely, it does no harm. He’s a very straightforward horse though and has a great attitude.”
Valorous Power (7/1) completed the O’Brien/ Browne McMonagle treble in the Bar One Racing Now Streaming Every Race Live Handicap, for owners Power Thoroughbreds PTY Limited.
The Frankel colt came with a stands’ side run from off the pace to beat Final Voyage by a head. The winning rider said: “A mile is the perfect trip for him. He’s a nice horse and hopefully can keep progressing.”
ALSO rescheduled from the previous week was the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Legacy Stakes over five furlongs, which was won by the David Egan-ridden Ipanema Queen (5/2).
Carrying a 3lb penalty for her Listed win at the Curragh in August, the Sands Of Mali filly was smartly out of stalls and made the running until joined by British raider Sirius A racing towards the final furlong.
The winner soon regained the advantage to post a length victory over Sirius A. Owned by Stonestreet Stables LLC and Amo Racing Ltd, Ipanema Queen had lost ground at the start when a disappointing favourite at Ayr on her previous outing.
Winning trainer Adrian Murray said: “She’s very quick. She got bogged down the last day in Ayr, the ground wouldn’t have suited her at all. Today she showed us what we were looking at at home. She’ll probably go for the Breeders’ Cup now, the Juvenile Sprint.”
Orr’s first success
Dylan Browne McMonagle wasn’t the only Donegal rider to enjoy success on the card as 18-year-old Jamie Orr rode his first winner on Cherry Pink (11/1) in the Bar One Racing Best Odds Guaranteed All Shops & Online Apprentice Handicap.
Owned and trained by Bill Durkan, the Elzaam mare led a furlong out and had a length to spare over market leader Sarmiento Power at the line.
“We bought her for Jamie to learn, he’s apprenticed with us,” said assistant trainer Gary Bannon. “His cousin Conor Orr rode a Midlands National winner for us and asked me if we’d take him on. He deserves everything, as he’s a great worker.”
Tussling
Market drifter Zillow (15/2) landed the concluding Bar One Racing Bet 10 Get 50 Handicap at Dundalk for Willie Mullins and Joey Sheridan. The winner carries the colours of the H O S Syndicate and got the better of a good tussle with Star Harbour by a short head.
Sheridan said: “David Casey and Willie just told me to keep it nice and smooth and I didn’t have to get serious with him. He handled that surface and will be a grand horse in those summer handicaps next year.”
THREE times a winner in Britain, the Sean Davis-trained Venetian (9/1) gained a first victory on Irish soil when running out a decisive winner of the Bar One Racing Better On Football Handicap.
Paddy Harnett’s mount was to the fore throughout and posted a two-and-a-half-length win over Sierra De Gredos.
“He thoroughly deserved that, he’s a consistent horse,” said Davis. “I’m thrilled for the horse and my partner Sinéad O’Scanaill owns him, so it’s a brilliant win.” All The Girls quickened up impressively to spring a 40/1 shock in the Irish EBF Fillies Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden.
James Ryan produced the winner, owned by Elaine Shevlin, Cormac Farrell and Denise McCourt, with a strong surge inside the final furlong as she posted a comprehensive four and a half lengths win over Castellucia.
“I was saying to one of the owners that the phone could be ringing after the way she won,” said trainer Tom McCourt, who bought the daughter of Sands of Mali for just €2,000 as a yearling.