WILLIE McCreery and Billy Lee teamed up to record doubles on the six-race card. Sanctijude gained just reward for her consistency when taking the Gowran Park Median Auction Fillies Maiden.
Sent off 7/4 favourite, the Deegan Racing Syndicate-owned daughter of Churchill stayed on well to beat long-time leader Fleur De Provence a short head.
McCreery said: “We were talking beforehand how do we win it. It was grand to get it done. Billy said he’d go forward but I said if someone wants to go forward, I’d love it to ride like a bit of work and have her come into it.
“That’s the way it worked out, so I’m delighted. I’m delighted for Michael and Dymphna Deegan; they’re getting on a flight at 5.30 to fly out to Kenya, I think, to visit their sister who is seventy, so a nice present for them.”
McCreery and Lee completed a brace on the evening when Earthsong won the Family Fun Day June 1st Handicap.
Sent off 9/2 joint-favourite, the Al Shira’aa Racing-owned four-year-old led early in the straight and, kept on well to score by a length and three-quarters from a running on Earthsong, who was reported to have hung left in the straight.
McCreery said: “She’s a big, strong filly just growing into herself. The more time she got, the better. I had to persuade Kieran (Lawlor, Racing Manager) a little bit to keep going with her and give her a bit of time.”
RECENT Naas winner Sparan Nua made it two from two when showing a smart turn of foot in the @gowranpark1 On X Fillies Race.
Sent off 2/1, the Mrs Jackie Bolger-owned filly led over a furlong out under Declan McDonogh, keeping on well to win from Vauntingly by four and a half lengths.
Ger Flynn, travelling head man to trainer Jim Bolger, reported: “Declan said she is very, very classy. Very smart. It’s her second start. She was a little bit on her toes in the parade ring for the preliminaries. Declan said everything went wrong for her.
“It wasn’t the way he wanted to ride her at all. He said she just oozes class; the minute he pressed the button it was all over in two strides. He said she could be an Irish Oaks filly. He’s riding enough of them to know.
“Look, she’s doing everything right at home. Kevin (Manning) rode her work there last week. She’s come on from her run in Naas. She’s grown up mentally and physically. She’s a beautiful filly going forward and we like her a lot now.”
Gowran return on the cards
The Johnny Murtagh-trained Rolltight justified strong support in the INPBA Sponsored Gate June 1st Maiden. 11/10 favourite (from 11/4), the Roll Tight Partnership-owned gelding headed Loughrea in the closing stages to record a three-quarter-length victory under Ben Coen.
Murtagh said: “We were pretty confident coming here. He had a very good run the first day. We thought he’d be a bit more streetwise today. Ben said quickening down into the straight he got a little bit unbalanced, but he always thought he had the second, and they were a good bit clear of the third.
“He’s in the big race, the Classic (at Gowran on June 1st). We’ll see how he is. Maybe a little close but if he comes out of it well and, I’ll speak to the owners, that might be his next shot.”
DAVID Marnane followed up a 76/1 double at Cork on Tuesday evening as Ballymagreehan won the Membership At Gowran Park Golf Club Handicap.
Backed from 12/1 into 4/1, the Paul Rooney-owned gelding made virtually all under Luke McAteer to score by four lengths from Chipsrdown.
Marnane said: “When Mick (Halford) retired we got him. To be fair, Mick always liked him. He won last year and, we were delighted for him. He’s for a great owner; loves the game, very enthusiastic owner. That’s his second win for us now, so it’s great. He’s only had a couple of runs on turf, but he might just want that nice ground.”
Gloriously Glam stayed on well close home to take the Golf At Gowran Park Optional Claiming Race. Trained by Ado McGuinness, the 9/2 chance beat Profit Surge half a length under a strong ride from Adam Caffrey.
McGuinness said: “She’s after winning a couple of these and is a gamey little filly. She’s had a couple of good runs this year and is there to be claimed. She’ll be a fun filly. She won a good fillies’ race last year and was entitled to fight out the finish.
Fought well
“I thought McAuley’s horse (Independent Expert) was really the one to beat but she was game and she fought well. The boys (Dooley Thoroughbreds, Jimmy Fairhurst and Deepak Dhand) bought her in an online sale last year out of Jessie’s and she’s after winning three for them so happy days.
“If she goes, she goes; if she doesn’t, we’ll rattle on to a couple of them fillies’ races. Hopefully I can get one down here because she loves this place.”
Following the running of race six, the raceday stewards met with a delegation of senior riders, the IHRB Clerk of the Course, IHRB doctor and the racecourse manager to inspect the bend past the stands. Having inspected the track, and in the interest of safety for horse and rider, the stewards abandoned the final race.