JOSEPH O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle combined for Killarney doubles on Tuesday, as the pair bookended the seven-race card with winners Alphonsus Liguori and Kiziyar.
The pair began with Alphonsus Liguori’s (2/5 favourite) win in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, as the once-raced Rectory Road Holdings Ltd-owned colt rallied well to retake the lead from runner-up Res Ipsa inside the final furlong, for a half-length success.
Browne McMonagle reported: “When I initially went to the front, Leigh (Roche, on Lonely Island) was a bit free on my outside, so I didn’t want to get competitive with him and was happy to take a lead.
“I then got caught for a little toe at the bottom of the straight, as Colin (Keane, on Res Ipsa) came around me, but I felt he wasn’t at the bottom and he found plenty for pressure. He is a lovely horse and will only improve, so has a nice future.”
Making all
Three hours later, O’Brien and Brown McMonagle completed doubles with Kizlyar (11/1) in the concluding Killarney Racegoers Club Race. Although strongly pressed by Sky Captain throughout the final two furlongs, the HOS Syndicate-owned winner eventually registered a never-headed success, by three-parts of a length.
Brown McMonagle said: “He relaxed well in front, he stays well and I always felt that I would hold on.
“If he bounced back to what he had been (in France), he was always going to be competitive and he felt nice, so hopefully can keep progressing.”
O’Brien’s brother Donnacha was on the mark in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Race with Irish Oaks-entrant Glyfada (5/4 favourite).
Carrying the colours of American owners Skara Glen Stables and ridden by jockey Gavin Ryan, the daughter of Camelot quickened well to lead inside the final furlong, to beat What About Us by two lengths.
Ryan said: “It was a little worry dropping down in distance, but Donnacha was very happy sending her down.
“She is a lovely big filly, is very versatile and has answered every question so far.”
THERE were two consecutive big-priced winners on the card, beginning with Hygge’s 20/1 success in the Fexco Maiden, for jockey Declan McDonogh, trainer Gordon Elliott and the Sundowners Syndicate.
Godolphin-bred and out of a half-sister to Giant’s Causeway, Hygge had failed to win from four previous hurdle starts but debuted on the flat and overcame in-running traffic to score a last-gasp neck success from Treasure Rose.
Elliott’s representative, Ryan McElligott said: “Gordon quite liked him last autumn, but it didn’t work out for him over hurdles, where it didn’t happen for him. He might have found his niche now.
“He could go up in trip, a galloping track would probably suit - although after winning a maiden first-time, he could be hard to place. The owners will have plenty of fun with him, though.”
Surprise for Flynn
Half an hour later, trainer Paul Flynn’s Nibras Rainbow caused a 33/1 upset for the Mind Your Own Business Syndicate, scoring a second course-and-distance success for jockey Leigh Roche, in the Velo Coffee Roasters Handicap.
The six-year-old made virtually all the running and, while strongly pressed in the closing stages, held on well for a short-head success from Jasmine Affanalis.
Roche reported: “I had won on him two years ago, so he likes this track.
“When horses come around him, he can curl up a little bit, but he broke smartly today and I got a nice position.
“I got my own way in front and, in fairness, he had to be gutsy as he was headed, but battled well and had his head down at the right time.”
BOTTOM weight Femme Beauty (8/1) registered a first success on her 14th attempt, when landing the Brehon Hotel Handicap for owner Pauline Condon, her husband trainer Ken Condon and jockey Shane Foley.
Femme Beauty was another prominent racer to score, when making all the running and holding on well in the final furlong to score by a half length from Musashi.
Foley stated: “In fairness to Max (Popan), a 10lb claimer based with Ken, he has done nothing wrong riding this filly the last few times. The filly’s weight was too light for him to ride today.
“I had a nice willing partner and got it pretty easy on the front end.
“She skipped around and fought all the way up the straight.
“She isn’t over big, Ken thought she might have won a nursery last year and, while it has taken until now, might win again, as these tight tracks suit.”
Amateur jockey Joey Dunne registered a first success for trainer Henry de Bromhead in the concluding Outlook Publications (QR) Handicap, scoring on the Acheson family-owned Factual Fact (15/8 joint-favourite).
The Authorized-sired gelding raced prominently and, having led in the closing stages, held on to score by a half length from Harry’s Legacy.
Dunne said: “My first ride for Henry was at the Fairyhouse Easter festival, which didn’t go to plan, but thankfully this did.
“Puppy (Robbie Power, assistant trainer) rang me on Wednesday morning, so I was more than happy to ride the horse.
“I settled my horse just behind the leader and, having previously shown speed over a mile and a half, I was able to quicken turning in. He was lairy when I got there, but was always doing enough. He has form on every ground now.
“I had been mainly point-to-pointing recently, but am delighted to be back riding on the track now and hopefully this will open more doors.”