SIOBHAN Rutledge enjoyed a milestone moment as she rode out her claim when winning the Fiver Fridays At Fairyhouse Handicap on the three-year-old Stone Bear at Fairyhouse on Thursday.
In reaching the 95-winner mark, the Ashbourne jockey joined trailblazers Joanna Morgan and former champion apprentice Cathy Gannon as the only women to lose their claim on the flat in Ireland.
The Ross O’Sullivan-trained 9/2 chance easily picked off Absoluteassignment inside the final furlong to score by a cosy length and a quarter.
Speaking to RacingTV, Rutledge, who spent last year in Australia, said: “I feel kind of proud, it’s a big achievement for me. It’s been on the list of goals for the last while and it feels like a big deal to me anyway so it’s all downhill from here, as they say!”
Of his most progressive winner, Ross O’Sullivan commented: “We’re delighted, she’s a right little filly and is after winning three now. She’s been ultra-consistent and Siobhan gets a great tune out of her.
“I’m delighted for John Bowden (owner). We’ll try and keep her in her own age bracket as long as we can, because it gets a bit harder with the older horses. I’m delighted for Siobhan too, because you couldn’t meet a harder worker and a nicer girl.”
King reigns supreme
The Donnacha O’Brien-trained High King (10/1) left his debut run well behind when scoring in impressive fashion in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race.
The Calyx colt, owned by Barry Fowler, John C Oxley and Justin Casse, had finished last on his first outing at the Curragh earlier this month, after missing the break.
Gavin Ryan produced his mount to lead on the inner early in the straight and he kept on strongly in the closing stages to post a three-and-a-half-length success over the staying-on 11/8 favourite Joga Bonito.
The winning rider said: “We liked him going to the Curragh and knew he’d come on for it. Most of our two-year-olds seem to be taking a run. He knew his job a little bit more today, although he will improve again as he had a good look when he got to the front.”
PATIENCE paid off with Spirit Of Eagles, as she landed the optional claimer for trainer Thomas Dowling. Martin Flinter’s Gleneagles mare had been placed five times since joining the Naas-based handler and went to post an 11/1 shot.
She came off a strong pace to launch her challenge on the far rail over a furlong from home, under Billy Lee, and gained the advantage in the closing stages to beat Profit Surge by three-parts of a length.
“She’s just been an unlucky filly really. She’s a drop in sprinter and she always seems to find trouble,” said Dowling. “Everything went well today and the splits came when they should have. If she’s not claimed, she could come back up here, there are races here for her every week for the next three weeks.” There were no claims lodged.
Joint-top weight Are You In Or Out (7/1) reappeared from over seven months out of action to land the six-furlong 5 Euro General Admission Next Friday Handicap.
James Ryan had plenty of horses in front of him turning for home, but he managed to weave his way through rivals and the five-year-old daughter of Inns Of Court got up in the closing stages to beat Whatswrongnow by half a length in the colours of the trainer’s wife Karena.
Winning trainer Conor Maxwell said: “It fell her way, she got a lovely run up the inner and got there in time. We’ve nothing really planned out for her. We’ll see what the handicapper does now, and then see where we go for the summer.”
TRAINED by Jessica Harrington and ridden by Shane Foley, Fortuity (9/2) was always prominent and battled on gamely to win the seven-furlong Book Your Hospitality At Fairyhouse.ie Handicap.
Second at Roscommon on her previous start, the Dark Angel filly was soon in front and shrugged off nearest pursuer Lady Kelly over a furlong out before finding enough to hold closers, Elly Bay and Venetian Star, by half a length and a neck.
Richie Galway said afterwards: “She had a nice first run. Shane was nice and positive on her, and I’d say that was important. When she got to the front, she was game.
“Her owner Michael Drapac was actually over from Australia at the weekend and he had Punica Granatum beaten a short-head at the Curragh, so it’s nice to get her to win.”
Stepping up
Four times a winner over a mile at Dundalk, Moyassr successfully stepped back up in trip to notch a first win on turf in the Racing Again Next Friday Apprentice Handicap over a mile and a quarter.
The Aidan Hynes-owned Mehmas gelding went off at 8/1 and came from the middle of the pack under Reese Holohan to collar the front-running Out On Friday 100 yards out to score by two and a quarter lengths for trainer Paul Flynn.
Flynn said: “I always thought this trip would suit him, but he still had to prove that. It’s nearly a mile and three in Dundalk and I think that was a bit far, this is an easier mile and two. He’s well handicapped, in theory, but has taken a while to prove it.” Flynn also saddled the third home, She’s Ideal (6/1).
Making all
Also at 8/1, Guardian Of Realm made all the running to get off the mark at the fifth time of asking in the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Owned and bred by Juddmonte, the Ger Lyons-trained three-year-old skipped clear well over a furlong from the finish under Colin Keane to beat evens favourite Mai Dahlia by all of six lengths.
Lyons said: “We knew that was in her locker, just things had to go right. She’s a little bit headstrong and I said to Colin going out ‘if I was riding her, I’d settle her from the front, but I’m not saying she’ll let you’.
“We knew she had that ability, so that’s nice. That’s a box ticked, winning her maiden, and I’ll talk to Barry Mahon now and see where we go.”