SYZYGY caused an 80/1 upset when winning the featured Group 3 Denny Cordell Lavarack & Lanwades Stud Fillies & Mares Stakes.
Trained by Danny McLoughlin, the Andrew Davis-owned and bred mare got up close home under Scott McCullagh to score by a short-head from 50/1 shot Pollenca.
McLoughlin said: “She was good and she’s a filly that obviously picked up blacktype already. She was entered in France today over a mile and a quarter, fillies’ only.
“France was the plan all the time, but earlier in the week I rang the owners as you put horses in France thinking you’ll get soft ground, especially this time of year. We just got the rain a touch earlier.
“That’s the third Group 3 and a listed this year. Having one stakes winner was top of the bucket list this year, so to have four is madness. This is why we do it.
“Scott is my best friend and when he’s on them, it’s all the better. He’s someone I rate very highly as a rider, but he just doesn’t get the chances. It’s brilliant to have him on board.”
Best is yet to come
Albany County justified 8/15 favouritism under Wayne Lordan in the Irish EBF (C & G) Maiden. Owned by Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Mrs John Magnier, the colt led early in the straight before keeping on to win by three-quarters of a length.
In the absence of trainer Aidan O’Brien, stable representative Chris Armstrong reported: “He had two nice runs coming here. He was still very babyish.
“The run around here at a turning track, and coming downhill, will be good experience for him. He’s a horse you’ll probably see the best of once he goes up in trip on a big galloping track.
“We’ll probably get one more run into him. There are a couple of group races coming up. He’ll be a lovely middle-distance horse for next year.”
Capri survives stewards
Isle Of Capri survived a stewards enquiry to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. Keeping on well in the closing stages, the Donnacha O’Brien-trained 13/8 chance scored by half a length for the Tabor/Smith, Mrs J Magnier, Westerberg partnership.
Winning jockey Gavin Ryan said: “She is a lovely filly that has improved with every run. She was very green when she got to the front again today.
“She had quite a good look at the big screen and rolled around. I thought she did very well to put her head back down and get up.”
Burns dashes home
THE Tom Gibney-trained Ryefield Dasher also had to overcome an enquiry before landing the SIS Maiden. Sent off 3/1 under Nicola Burns, the Seamus Kiernan-owned gelding held Big Cypress by a head.
Gibney said: “He ran a cracker the last day on ground that was a bit on the quick side. I was surprised how well he ran, because we had been waiting all season for a bit of soft ground.
“I was just delighted to see it turn out the way we thought it might, when he got the bit of ease in it. He’s still very babyish and learning. He’ll probably go back into handicaps.”
Making all
Greydreambeliever made all under Julian Pietropaolo to win the Racing Again October 2nd & 3rd Race. Sent off 2/1 favourite, the Joseph O’Brien-trained mare kept on strongly to score by seven lengths for owners Kevin Blake, Emma Palmer, Michael Wilson and Nick Luck.
O’Brien said: “She had been running well and she’d run well here a few times. Julian gave her a nice ride. His claim was a help to her.
“She won well in fairness. We’d obviously love to get a bit of blacktype if we could. We’ll see what the handicapper does after today and then we’ll make a plan from there.”
PADDY Harnett rode Navajo Point to win the Support The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund Apprentice Handicap. Trained by Martin Hassett for his wife Deirdre, the 14/1 chance led over a furlong out before keeping on to win by three-quarters of a length from Cladach.
Martin said: “He is an improving horse. It’s well documented that I said he fractured his pelvis there 18 months ago. We took our time with him.
“Paddy said he had a job to pull him up. He probably wants further and he’ll be a nice horse next year. More importantly, he’s our own so we have a few pound!
“Paddy is flying, he knows the horse. You just have to keep niggling away on him. We’ll tip away with him on soft ground and he’ll tell us when to stop.”
Chipsrdown stayed on best under Sam Coen to take the concluding Boyle Sports Home Of Early Payout Handicap. Owned by the Howard family, the 9/4 favourite scored by two and a half lengths from Caue I Like You.
Trainer Andy Slattery said: “It was grand to get one out of the day. She’s won her last two. We gave her a break during the summer because the ground was gone too quick.
“We’ll tip away now on a bit of soft ground and probably even step her up to a mile and a quarter. She always showed a good bit, but disappointed a lot of times.
“Andrew (Slattery, son and jockey) had to stand down today to give Sam the chance of another winner.
“He’ll have to stand down on a few of them now for that. Sam is a bit heavy, so it’s his last chance (for the apprentice championship).”