THE success of King Cuan in the feature Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race was the highlight of a quick-fire 83/1 treble for Billy Lee. The winner of some valuable prizes as a juvenile, the Paddy Twomey-trained four-year-old missed the entire campaign last year and was fifth on his return in April.
Expected to account for his two rivals and register a fourth career win, the Tasleet four-year-old was returned the 10/11 favourite. Owned by the Red Lily Racing Syndicate, the 96-rated victor raced in second and eased to the front with just under a furlong to go, keeping on well to score by two and a half lengths.
“I’m delighted that he’s back on track and he’ll go for the Listed Belgrave Stakes now on Derby weekend,” Twomey reported.
Starting the hat-trick
One of two four-year-olds in the line-up, Germanese (10/1) initiated the Lee three-timer in the CPAC Modular Maiden. Fifth on her sole previous start in October, the Willie McCreery-trained chesnut was settled in mid-division and had plenty to do entering the straight. Soon making smooth headway on the inner, the €110,000 Goffs Orby Sale purchase was switched out to challenge inside the final 200 yards and got by Knockmark close home, with half a length between them at the line.
“The owners (the Deegan Racing Syndicate) have been very patient, and it has paid off. Billy gave her a lovely patient ride and gave her a chance,” McCreery remarked. “I think she probably wants six (furlongs), but the seven suited today being a four-year-old and getting her back started.”
Ready to bloom
Lee was also seen to good effect on the Team Valor-owned Orchidaceae, with this one registering a third win on her sixth start in the Fairy Nights Handicap.
Well-supported from 6s into 3/1 joint-favouritism, the Andy Oliver-trained bay made good headway on the nearside early in the straight and was ridden to the front inside the final 200 yards, keeping on well to hold off Sir Jeremy by three quarters of a length.
“She ran flat last time and it turned out she was in season,” Oliver revealed. “We were hopeful she was in good shape coming into this and blacktype will be her ultimate aim.”
LESS than a fortnight on from his double on the Sunday of Guineas weekend, Gary Carroll repeated the feat by again combining with Joe Murphy and Gavin Cromwell.
Carroll struck first on Cromwell’s Mo Chroi in the Fairyhouse For BBQs Maiden, with this one stepping forward nicely from his debut third at Dundalk in November. Returned at 9/2, the Patrick Sheanon-owned bay raced in mid-division and was short of room early in the straight.
Soon switched to the outer and ridden, the €62,000 Tattersalls Breeze Up Sale purchase finished with a flourish from the furlong pole and got by Iron Fist inside the final 50 yards, with half a length between them at the line.
“He was brave enough as he had to switch out wide and came home strong. I’d say he’ll get plenty further,” Cromwell commented.
Completed
Carroll completed his brace on Murphy’s Dolce Far Niente in the first divide of the Racing Again Next Friday Handicap.
Off a career low mark of 44, the Zoffany four-year-old didn’t go unsupported and, having touched 20s early, she was eventually returned at 8/1.
The Crampscastle Bloodstock-owned bay lost her early lead after two furlongs, but regained the advantage when ridden with over a furlong to go, keeping on well from there to score by a length and a half.
“We’ve always liked her, and she’s done what she does at home,” Murphy disclosed. “She’s been very disappointing, but we held onto her and she’s been covered by Sioux Nation, so we’ll see how that goes.”
Left in the stalls aboard Don’t Look Now in that opening divide, Seamie Heffernan had a much more enjoyable experience on Fervent (25/1) in the second split. Previously in the care of Adrian McGuinness and starting off for Stuart Crawford, the 56-rated handicap debutant made all.
Owned by Gary Devlin, Kevin Osborne and Joseph McCrory, the three-year-old was ridden from the two-furlong pole and only needed to be kept up to his work in the closing stages, as he eased to a length-and-a-quarter win.
FOLLOWING up on a recent course and distance win, I Bid You Ajou (6/1) provided Joe Harnett with a memorable first success in the Dino Day 9th July Handicap.
The younger brother of established apprentice Paddy, the Abbeyfeale native drove his mount to the front with just over a furlong to go and he kept on well from there to beat Carrigans Cove (4/1 favourite) by a length.
“Shane Foley told us after riding him in the Curragh to get him around a bend and let him roll,” Mark Fahey, who trains the four-year-old victor, for the Pabiroco Syndicate, revealed.
He then added: “Joe is with me about six months and is a good worker. I’m hoping he can kick on and get some outside rides as he deserves it.”
Green’s got Soul
Favourite-backers again had to settle for minor honours in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, with the friendless Green Soul just coming out on top. As short as 15/8 in early shows, the Joseph O’Brien-trained bay was eventually returned at 11/2 under Declan McDonogh.
Tracking the leaders and edging left from the two-furlong pole, the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned victor was soon ridden and found plenty for pressure, getting up close home to prevail by a head from the Aidan O’Brien-trained Frescobaldi.
As an Orby Sale graduate, the winner picked up a €50,000 bonus, with this race part of the Goffs Bonus Series.