GOODIE Two Shoes won the featured Group 3 Darley Irish EBF Stanerra Stakes (Fillies & Mares) at Fairyhouse on Wednesday. Trained by Joseph O’Brien, the well-backed 11/8 favourite led over a furlong out under Dylan Browne McMonagle, before staying on well to beat Drawn To Dream by half a length.
O’Brien later said of the J.P. McManus-owned mare: “In fairness to her, she’s in the form of her life and I’d say fast ground is very important to her. There is a Group 2 one-mile, six-furlong fillies race (Lillie Langtry) in Goodwood and we might look at going there next.
“It’s probably a logical step up the ladder. It would be either that or the Curragh Cup, but it makes sense to stay against fillies. There is a lovely programme of staying races for fillies, so as long as the ground stays good, she’ll be competitive in them.”
Treble time
Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen dominated the remainder of the card, combining to register a treble. Chicago Call initiated the three-timer when taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden by two and a half lengths.
Carrying the colours of Samuel M Mencoff and Anthony Paul Smurfit, the colt belied odds of 18/1 to comfortably hold the challenge of 5/4 favourite Charles Fort.
Murtagh reported: “He’s a horse that needs plenty of work and he’s thrived on his work. I thought he still might need one more race before he was zoned in. I’d say he’s an above average colt and we might step him up in class now and see where he fits in.”
Shakazia brought up the middle leg when easily winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. Sent off 4/6 favourite, the filly carried the colours of Exors of the Late H H Aga Khan to a two-and-three-quarter-length success from Perfect Base (5/1).
Murtagh said: “She was due that win. Ben said that race suited her well and she is probably starting to relax a bit better now and learning how to race. She quickened up and won well.
“It’s nice to get a winning bracket and we’ll see what the handicapper gives her now before deciding her next target. Seven furlongs and good to firm ground suits her really well.”
MURTAGH and Coen completed the hat-trick as Blues Emperor stayed on best to take the Free Ice Cream For All Children Handicap. Owned by Mrs H M Keaveney and Mark Keaveney, the 7/2 chance beat 2/1 favourite I Bid You Ajou by two and a half lengths.
Murtagh said: “He’s a warrior and I think he likes the sun nowadays. He came out of the Curragh so well and I think seven is a good trip for him as well.
“We’ve been running him in those Premier Handicaps over a mile, and he won one of them at the Curragh. Maybe the big seven-furlong handicap at Galway on the Sunday, that’s where we might go next.”
Successful debut
Gavin Cromwell and Robert Whearty teamed up for a double, highlighted by the debut win of Quiet Mutiny in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Backed from 16/1 into 3/1 favourite, the Benjamin Halsall-owned filly landed those odds by three-quarters of a length from Precise (6/1). Cromwell said: “I’m not surprised, and I suppose the market told you that as well. She’s a nice filly and hopefully can keep progressing. All her work has been good, and she seems to have a great mind. The sire is doing very well and I’m just sorry that I don’t have a few more of them!”
Office answers
Londonofficecallin gave Cromwell and Whearty a brace when readily winning the Fairyhouse Winter Festival 29th & 30th November Rated Race. Carrying the colours of the In Bounds Syndicate, the grey justified odds of 9/4 by five lengths to beat Not Just Any Eagle (6/1). Cromwell added: “That’s his ninth win and he hasn’t jumped a fence yet! When you’re in front like that there is always the risk of idling, so you have to keep the pressure on.
“He’s in the hands of the handicapper now. He’s a great fun horse and there are loads of options, but he might go for the 2m6f handicap hurdle on the Saturday at Galway.”
CHRIS Hayes made all aboard the Dermot Weld-trained Alice Monet to win the opening Dino Family Day @ fairyhouse Optional Claiming Race. Sent off 9/4, the Moyglare Stud Farm-owned filly easily got off the mark on the third time of asking to beat market leader Wonderfulwonderful by 10 lengths.
Weld said: “The plan was to make it. I thought the others had more speed in their pedigrees and that’s why we decided to make the running. She settled well in front.
“She’s been a late-developing filly, and she’s progressed. I’m in favour of the way these races are framed. They work exceptionally well in America, and they will work well here in time as well.”
Zaraahmando sent favourite-backers home happy when winning the concluding Farewell To Peter Roe Handicap for trainer Andy Slattery and son, Andrew. Sent off 7/2, the Eight Star Syndicate-owned gelding led inside the final furlong to beat Verhoyen one and three-quarter lengths. Slattery senior said: “I thought he was a bit hard giving him 8lb for winning the last day. He got handicapped last year when he was running too free in his races, but he’s settling better.
“Hopefully he keeps progressing and, if we can get him into Galway, he’ll probably go there. He’s in Saturday in Dundalk, but as of now he’s not running. We’lI sleep on it and see how he is in the morning.”