THE Aidan O’Brien-trained Come What May (4/6 favourite) landed the Trigo Stakes (Listed) in emphatic style over a mile and a quarter at Leopardstown’s final day of flat racing for the year.
A full-brother to Derby winner Desert Crown, the Coolmore-owned three-year-old, in the colours of Michael Tabor, was shaken up with two furlongs to go. He quickened clear under Wayne Lordan over a furlong out and galloped on stoutly to beat Diego El Queso (17/2) by six lengths.
“In fairness, he just took time to come to hand. He’s a big horse, and Aidan gave him all the time he needed to strengthen up. He was fierce impressive the first day at the Curragh, but I think he was even more impressive here,” enthused Ballydoyle representative Chris Armstrong.
“He’ll even appreciate going up in trip again. I’d say he’s a horse with above-average ability.”
Promise realised
The opening Leopardstown Golf, Padel And Range Maiden was taken by Vico Road (22/1), who stayed on strongly to win over this mile-and-one-furlong trip.
John Murphy’s gelding was positioned just behind the pace before being pulled to the outside by Shane Foley two furlongs out. Owned by the Vico Road Partnership, the son of Elzaam got up inside the final 50 yards to beat Sunatia (5/6F) by three-quarters of a length.
“He’s a horse George [Murphy, assistant trainer] always liked. He works nicely,” reported Shane Foley.
“He had two lovely runs. He maybe thought he just backed him up too quick the third time. It was three runs in the space of three weeks. He showed today that he’s a grand horse, and I think the further he goes, the better he’ll be.”
KING Cuan (5/2) recorded back-to-back listed wins in the Bahrain Turf Club Knockaire Stakes over a mile and 100 yards. Billy Lee gave the Red Lily Syndicate’s gelding a very patient ride in a race run at a strong tempo. Paddy Twomey’s charge started to make headway turning into the straight and hit the front inside the final 50 yards, going on to score by a cozy half length from Lewis Carroll (20/1).
Twomey said: “I was never worried about him staying the mile. He’s a horse that relaxes and does everything well. He’s got fundamental class, and I’m delighted with the way he won.
“We’ll keep him in training next year. I told the owners he was going to the sales, but he’s come out and won every time I’ve run him since I said that, so we’ll keep him.”
Progressive purchase
Horse-in-training purchase Truth Be Told rewarded Michael Grassick and owner Ken Campbell with a valuable win in the €50,000 Bahrain Turf Club October Handicap over a mile and three furlongs.
Billy Lee partnered the 5/1 shot, who travelled strongly while awaiting a gap over two furlongs out and once an opening appeared, the four-year-old showed a sharp turn of foot to beat Thatwilldoso (12/1) by half a length.
Grassick said: “We’ve been waiting and waiting. The rain we got overnight helped. He just doesn’t want extremes of ground. Billy said he was brave. He said it was only half a gap, but he went through it for him and picked up well.
“There have been a few people trying to buy him, but I’ve a brave owner. He was a good owner with Dad for years. He’s never had a real good horse, so he’s enjoying this fella.”
ANDY Slattery and Jimmy Dalton recorded their first double together on the day, opening with the success of Highbury See See, who just did enough to win the Nord Anglia International School Dublin Foxrock Cup Handicap.
The 10/1 chance was produced to challenge leader Uncle Goalie over a furlong out. Forging ahead with less than 100 yards to race, Hugo McDermott’s gelding was strongly pressed by Majestic King close home, but just did enough to prevail by a nose.
The winning trainer said: “He got hemmed in in Listowel. I put cheekpieces on him today. He was threatening to do that all year. It’s grand to win one with him.
“I wasn’t going to run him this morning; I said the ground was probably too dry. Then I said to the owner, we might as well run, as there are only two weeks left.”
Valuable claim
The second leg of the double came through Zaraahmando winning the concluding Watch Every Irish Race Live On Racing TV Handicap.
Sent off 7/2f, the Eight Star Syndicate-owned gelding was positioned in the leading half-dozen. Pushed along to close over a furlong out, the four-year-old son of Time Test stayed on strongly to beat stablemate Queen Aethelflaed by half a length.
Slattery said: “He deserved that. He has been running consistently all year and finished second a few times. He kept going up in the weights, so the 7lb claim helped today.”
Back in front
Slattery almost enjoyed a treble, as Nermal was just held in the 10-furlong handicap won by the Maurice Ahern-trained Thyer (6/1).
Dylan Browne McMonagle rode his first winner since returning from injury on the John O’Shaughnessy-owned son of Gleneagles, on whom he managed to navigate a passage through a compact field and made his challenge over a furlong out. He hit the front inside the final furlong and was pressed by Nermal from that point, but held on gamely to score by a neck.
“I’m delighted with that,” enthused Ahern. “He’s been knocking on the door. He probably just bumped into one when second to Jack Foley’s filly (Liberation Date) there that day in the Curragh.
“He got an unbelievable ride from Dylan. He gave me my first winner last year, so I’m after giving him his first winner back now!”