RED Letter got a confidence-boosting win to her name as she outbattled Fiery Lucy in the feature Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cairn Rouge Stakes.
From 5/4 in early shows for this listed heat, the highly-regarded Frankel grey was eventually returned the 8/11 favourite in the famous Juddmonte silks.
Drawn wide and settled in mid-division by Colin Keane, the Ger Lyons-trained victor made good headway from early in the straight and edged to the front from the two-furlong pole. While soon tackled, she ultimately found plenty when ridden and came home half a length to the good.
“She has done it the hard way, she was drawn and caught wide and the first two pulled well clear of the third,” assistant trainer Shane Lyons commented. “Colin said she will get further and, when she fills into her frame, she’ll be some horse next year.”
Love prevails
Keane doubled-up on Love Sonnet (15/8 favourite) in the concluding Muckross Irish Gin Handicap, with this 66-rated three-year-old leading home a 1-2 for John Murphy.
Successful at this venue when last seen in May, the Shaman bay was given a patient ride, making good progress on the inner around the bottom bend.
Brought to the centre of the track on the straight, she got to the front with two-furlongs to go and readily drew clear when ridden, easing to an 11-length win in the colours of the Hewins Hoare Partnership.
“Colin said they went pretty fast, he sat and waited and it worked well. She stayed well and she’ll make a smashing hurdler,” Murphy reflected.
“The runner-up (Atheneum) is a nice horse and will also make a good hurdler.”
“I THINK he could be a proper one,” Donnacha O’Brien enthused after the impressive success of A Boy Named Susie in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race.
Out of an unraced half-sister to Mehmas and sent off a 10/3 chance, the Starspangledbanner debutant was a bit keen early and soon tracked the leader in second under Gavin Ryan.
Owned by O’Brien’s sister Ana, he was pushed along to lead a furlong and a half from home and quickly settled matters, ultimately easing to a three-length win.
“We thought he was good as he did a really, really good piece of work up the Curragh a few weeks ago,” the successful handler, who was registering his third winner in as many days, remarked.
“For an auction race at Killarney, it has thrown up Iridessa, Luxembourg and last year Lambourn, so it’s a nice start for him.”
Ana O’Brien added: “It’s my first winner and first time back here since my fall (in 2017), so thankfully this is a much better day.”
Close conclusion
There was a much closer conclusion to the Start Your Free Month Trial At racingtv.com Handicap, with Denis Hogan’s Tassarolo just coming out on top.
Sent off an 11/2 chance, the Full Of Hope Syndicate-owned four-year-old tracked the leaders on the outer under Joey Sheridan and improved to the front with a furlong and a half to go.
Soon ridden and tackled by Slieve Bearnagh (10/3 favourite), he battled on gamely in the closing stages, eventually getting the better of the market leader by a neck.
“The boys were wondering about the ground today, but I’d say the little ease was ideal, as he has had his issues,” Hogan reported.
“He could now go for a 0-70 handicap at Galway.”
JUST days after his initial success at Limerick on Saturday, Conor Cusack once again successfully teamed up with Henry de Bromhead. Partnering Catena Zapata (2/1 favourite) in the Killarney Plaza Hotel & Spa Optional Claiming Race. Slow into stride, the Vadamos bay, who carried the colours of de Bromhead’s wife Heather, was poised to challenge behind the leaders on the turn for home. Edging to the front, he readily increased his advantage when ridden and came home six lengths clear of Shoot To Kill.
“He has missed the break on his last couple of runs, so I was expecting it and the first-time blinkers definitely helped, as I was able to get him back up to the pack quick enough,” Cusack explained. “Hopefully things keep going and a massive thanks to Henry, who has trusted me with two nice horses.” The winner (€6,000) and runner-up (€9,000) were later claimed by Ian Donoghue and James McAuley respectively.
Owned by Anamoine Limited, Iron Fist also justified favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, with this Jessica Harrington-trained bay returned a 5/4 chance from early shows of 2/1. Soon in front under Shane Foley, the New Bay gelding battled on gamely when tackled by market rival Hellorhighwater, coming home three-quarters of a length to the good. “At long last! He is a nice horse who has promised an awful lot and his two-year-old work was very good,” Kate Harrington revealed. “Hopefully, he will keep progressing.”
Yet another market leader came out on top in the Rose Hotel Handicap, with the Chris Timmons-trained Still She Blooms (3/1 favourite) making all in this extended mile contest. Quickly establishing a healthy advantage, the Darcy Minihane-owned four-year-old saw her lead greatly reduced from the two-furlong pole.
Ridden over a furlong out, the 57-rated bay found plenty for pressure under Robbie Colgan and came home two and three-quarters of a length to the good. “She was unlucky the last day as she was a sitting duck, but it never looked in any doubt today,” Timmons disclosed. “She’s a little hard on herself, so we found that this is the way to ride her.”