NIL Bua Gan Dua initiated a three-treble for Joseph O’Brien when making all to win the featured Listed John Fleming Irish EBF Marble City Stakes.
Sent off 5/1 under Dylan Browne McMonagle, the Austin Whelan and Reeves Thoroughbred Racing-owned colt made all in first-time cheekpieces and was ridden out to deny stablemate Vauntingly by a short-head, with another half a length back to Believed (6/5f).
O’Brien commented: “His focus was much better today with the cheekpieces. It was a great run from the filly who finished second as well; Delighted to get some blacktype with her.
“I’d say he’ll go into a group race now. We’ve always tried him quite highly and always had good thoughts about him, and he’s not finished yet.”
More like it
Duchess Of Kenli (7/1) brought up a quick double when leading close home under Joey Sheridan in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. The Janine Byrne-owned bay gained a clear run a furlong out and ran on strongly to beat Wearing Stars by a length and a quarter.
O’Brien said: “We weren’t sure what to expect today. We liked her going to Dundalk for her debut, but she didn’t really show up on the day. Today, she exceeded our expectations.
“She’s a sister to (Group 3 winner) Princess Child, that the [same owners] have, so hopefully she can go on to do something like she did.”
Well-deserved
Summer Is Tomorrow brought up the treble when justifying 30/100 favouritism in the Tote Race under Dylan Browne McMonagle. Michael Hilary Burke’s 98-rated colt tracked the leader and took over at the two-furlong pole, from which he was driven out to score by six and a half lengths.
“We were keen that he’d get a win after a couple of very good runs and he won impressively. Delighted to get his head back in front, he deserves it,” said O’Brien.
“He could go for something on Champions Weekend. He was just beaten at the Curragh on Derby weekend, so we might go back there.”
Bargain buy
Joey Sheridan doubled up as Hero Of The Hour (11/4) landed the Division I of the O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Handicap. Trained by William Delahunty for Michael John Delahunty, the nine-year-old made all to a three-quarter-of-a-length win over 5/2 favourite Liamo.
The winning owner said: “We had bad draws the last two days. We just had to take it on the chin.
“He’s a lovely horse. We bought him back in March out of Tattersalls Online (for 4,000gns). I was in college that day but was bidding away on him between lectures. When I got him, it was some thrill.”
Reese Holohan is back with a bang
ON his first ride back from injury, Reese Holohan won Division II of the O’Driscolls Irish Whiskey Handicap on Dynamic Force. Sent off 6/1 in the colours of Peter Jordan, the Kodiac gelding led from two furlongs out and was kept up to his work to the line, prevailing by a head from The Blue Panther.
Trainer Tom McCourt reported: “He ran a blinder the last day. Pity for Sadhbh (Tormey) now, she got a bang on the head yesterday. She had a bit of concussion. She got a good tune out of him too.
“It was great to get the win with him. He’s a long time trying to get a win. He deserved that. Reese gave him a lovely ride there. He’s good value for his seven [pounds].”
Grateful
Holohan completes his double aboard the Denis Hogan-trained Hexagonal (10/1) in the Tote Apprentice Handicap. The T and M Partnership-owned gelding travelled well turning for home and was asked for an effort two furlongs from home. He led inside the final furlong and went on to score by two and a quarter lengths.
Holohan said: “I came here thinking I had two right chances and thankfully both of them came out on top. I’m just very lucky to be getting these rides, and I’d just like to thank everyone that gave me them.
“It’s hard when you’re watching the ones that you think you should have been on, or you know you could have been on, and they start winning. That’s all part of the game and it makes you stronger, I think, in the end.”
Juvenile filly Sword Of State strikes from front
SWORD Of State made all under Rory Cleary to take the opening Irish EBF Auction Series Fillies Maiden. Owned by Martin Hayes and Peter Slezak, the Brendan Duke-trained filly scored by a length and a quarter at 18/1.
Duke said: “She’s very special and she’ll be better as the year goes on. We’ll be very careful with her. There is a novice on the 8th of August in the Curragh and then we’ll have a look at the Ingabelle.
“We might go transatlantic with her because the further on in the year, the better she’ll be. There’s no surprise here, she has a beautiful pedigree from a top-class outfit (Forenaghts Stud Farm).”
Horse for the future
The David Marnane-trained Hambelton made virtually all under Luke McAteer to take the Highway Safety Developments Handicap.
A well backed 6/5 favourite, the MRC International-owned gelding kept on well to score by half a length.
Marnane said: “He’s a horse in the making. We won’t be in a rush to run him back now. We had contemplated bringing him to York for the Ebor Festival, but I don’t think we will.
“I’d say we’ll wait for three or four weeks. He’s definitely a horse for the future and is only going to get better next year.”