FOR the second day in succession, Joseph O’Brien and Joey Sheridan joined forces to record doubles at Gowran Park. Lunar Tide initiated the brace when landing the opening Follow Gowran Park On Insta (C & G) Maiden.
Sent off 11/4, the ES Racing, Claxton, Antonacci Partnership-owned gelding made all to win by one and a quarter lengths. “Joey gave him a nice ride. We thought he went through the race in Dundalk nicely but the last bit was a bit long for him so we were happy to come back to a mile,” said O’Brien.
“I’d say he can probably go back further at some stage but that was a nice trip for now. There is a winners of one for him later this month, over a mile, so we could look at that.”
Chester Oaks on the cards
O’Brien and Sheridan doubled up as newcomer Rebel Moon got up close home to win the Irish Injured Jockeys Fillies Maiden. Owned by Al Shira’aa Racing, the Lope De Vega filly was sent off an 8/1 chance.
Held up towards rear, Sheridan was content to bide his time before moving fourth over a furlong out. As a trio of fillies battled it out for the lead, Rebel Moon swept through late on to score by one and a half lengths.
“First time out we were keen that she relaxed well,” said O’Brien. “She’s obviously a Lope De Vega and is a well-bred filly. We liked what we were seeing from her at home but to be honest I thought she’d be a bit green for here first time, without having a run at two. We could maybe go to the Chester Oaks in May.”
Rebel ascends
Despite showing signs of greenness, the Jack Davison-trained Rebel Ascendant made a winning debut when staying on well under James Ryan to land the Gowran Park Racing Club (C & G) Maiden.
Tracking the leaders in the early stages, the Glass Half Full Partnership-owned 14/1 chance closed up travelling easily over two-furlongs out.
However, once asked to go and win his race, the gelding hung left, losing plenty of ground in the process.
To his credit, he straightened up inside the final furlong, leading over 50 yards out to win by one and a quarter lengths.
“He’s a classy horse,” said Davison. “Whatever he does in the first six months of the year is always going to be a bonus. He’s a mile-two, and could even be a mile-and-a-half horse in the future.
“He’s just good and it’s a nice start here today. He’s in the classic here.”
APPRENTICE jockey Jimmy Dalton kept it simple when guiding the once-raced Purple Moon to an impressive win in the Thomastown Maiden. Prominent from the outset, Dalton moved third on the Pat O’Rourke-owned and trained four-year-old entering the straight.
Second over two furlongs out, Dalton led on the 80/1 outsider a furlong from home, skipping clear for a five-and-a-half-length win.
O’Rourke said: “He did it nicely tonight. He’s a good horse and he’ll get further. He’s related to another horse called Purple Moon, who was second in the Melbourne Cup. He’s for sale now.
“Hopefully somebody will buy him off me now. He’s a home-bred and I wouldn’t have got £5 for him as a yearling but he’s entitled to get sold off that. If he’s not sold at home he’ll go to the sales at Newmarket for the Guineas sale.”
Monday bridges long gap
Winless since March 2021, the Gillian Scott-trained Starting Monday bridged a five-year gap when getting up late under Donagh O’Connor to land the Racing Again April 22nd Handicap.
Sent off 16/1 in the colours of the Starting Monday Syndicate, the nine-year-old travelled well in the first five or six. Ridden to challenge over a furlong out, the veteran found plenty in the closing stages, getting up in the dying strides to score by one and a quarter lengths.
“He’s definitely my favourite. I’m delighted that he’s won because now people can stop saying that he hasn’t won since 2021!” said Scott.
“I actually thought today wasn’t soft enough but he just jumped and travelled. He was delighted with himself in that grade. I’m thrilled for the owners as they’ve stuck by him.”
A PREVIOUS dual winner at the track, Lady Arwen recorded a third success when just holding on under Sam Coen to land the Societies Welcome At Gowran Park Handicap.
Trained by Conor O’Dwyer and carrying the colours of owners Hugo and Anne Kane, the seven-year-old mare was sent to post a 7/1 chance. Tracking the pace in the early stages, Coen came through to head Rock Basher over a furlong out. However, with Shane Foley conjuring a strong late run out of Miss Americana, the line just came in time for Lady Arwen who held on by a short head.
The trainer’s son Charlie said: “We couldn’t be happier. They are fantastic owners. It’s fantastic for her to win again and I think after a couple of runs she’ll get a little bit further as well.
“We’ll play it by ear with her, she’ll tell us. She’s a very genuine, honest mare and you can nearly go anywhere with her. She always puts her head down.”
Orr sheds 10lb claim
Jamie Orr rode a third career winner when guiding the Bill Durkan-owned and trained Holy See to victory in the concluding Gowranpark.ie Handicap.
Getting the perfect box seat position early on, Orr tracked the leader Rock Of Ireland into the straight, before moving up to challenge two furlongs out. Leading over a furlong from home, the 14/1 chance kept on strongly to win by three-quarters of a length.
“It’s nice to get the third one on the board and get the 10lb claim away,” said Orr. “It’s nice to get a winner for the Durkans, who have done a lot for me. He galloped to the line very well and I’d say he’s a smart horse. He’s been working well at home and had good form on the flat in France. He loved the ground.”