JOSEPH O’Brien completed doubles at both Limerick and Down Royal on Saturday, with the trainer scoring the first two home in the featured Listed Irish EBF Martin Molony Stakes at the Munster venue, with Uluru (6/1) and Lemsairbat (7/4 favourite).
O’Brien was at Royal Ascot to see his Al Riffa finish second in the Hardwicke Stakes and, at Limerick, jockey Chris Hayes stepped in for his second winner for the trainer on Team Valor International’s Uluru.
Racing in mid-field, Uluru improved on the outside to lead a furlong from home, with stablemate Lemsairbat challenging on their inside, but unable to get within a length and a quarter of the winner.
Afterwards, Hayes reported: “It’s nice to get the ride and I had a bit of luck with these owners before with Panama Hat, so they’re lucky connections.
“She switched off like it was a piece of work and I got there an hour and a half too soon, because I didn’t think I was going that well running into the straight. All of a sudden, I angled her out and she leapt into the bridle. She enjoyed the ground and the trip and I think there’s more to come.”
Shining double
Forty minutes later, O’Brien’s Denim And Diamonds (15/8 favourite) easily landed the Follow Limerick On Instagram Maiden under Ronan Whelan.
The daughter of Camelot moved past leader Faire La Nouba with two furlongs to race, and sprinted clear to score impressively by 11 lengths, with nine lengths to third-placed Step To Somewhere.
O’Brien’s representative Shane Crosse said: “She relished getting her toe in the ground today and, while it didn’t look the strongest of races on paper, you’d love the way she quickened in the last furlong.
“Her work had also been nice coming into today and Ronnie (Whelan) was very happy. Hopefully she can progress through the year.”
AMEMRI (14/1) completed a remarkable handicap five-timer in the Ballyduane Stud (Fillies) Handicap, leading home a David Marnane-trained 1-2.
Having her first start since March, Amemri improved from mid-field under Darragh O’Sullivan and moved ahead of Aviatrice in the final furlong, to beat her stablemate by three-parts of a length.
Marnane reported: “Amemri was initially part of our MRC International syndicate, but wasn’t selling for enough (at 6,000gns), so instead I bought her as a present for my wife, so kudos to me!
“She had won three races for the syndicate and, buying her, I thought she might win a couple. To win five in a row and six for us is remarkable and she knows how to get a job done.”
Hat-trick
Deuteronomy (15/2) was another to complete a winning sequence when landing a hat-trick in the Greemount Suite @ Limerick Handicap, for father and daughter, trainer Robbie Burns and jockey Nicola Burns.
The Acclamation gelding improved from mid-division to lead over a furlong out and held on well from runner-up Tynamite.
Afterwards, Burns senior reported: “That is brilliant as I didn’t know if he could do the three in a row. Sometimes little horses like that just get their confidence and he has had his palate operated on, so it all helps.
“Nicola knows the horse best, so I left instructions up to her and told her ‘best of luck to ya’. A big thanks to Tony McLoughlin, his owner, who is a tremendous help and I wouldn’t be here without him.”
Easy winner
Rion Rubette (4/1) ran out the very easy eight-length winner of the CBE Concannon Group Handicap to score a maiden success.
The Michael Butler-trained filly was held up in the rear and made headway from two out. She sprinted clear in the home straight under Wayne Hassett, getting the better of Misappropriation, who was no match for the Bredwinner Syndicate-owned winner.
Afterwards Butler said: “That was very impressive and maybe the cut in the ground today helped, but also the extra furlong.
“On her Curragh run, I thought she might get through and win but I thought, maybe, she might only win by half a length or a length. God only knows what will happen now and she might never win again after winning eight lengths.”
CHAMPION trainer Aidan O’Brien landed the opening Darren’s Way Maiden with Alfred Tennyson (4/1) for the Coolmore partners, which raced prominently throughout when beating Knockmark by two and a quarter lengths, under jockey Jack Cleary.
The capable 5lb-claimer later reported: “The plan was to go forward with him and he seemed to enjoy doing that, with the blinkers on. As we straightened up, I gave him a slap down the shoulder and he was really game to the line. He is a nice horse going forward.”
On a good afternoon for claiming apprentices, the concluding Racing Again On 12th July Handicap was won by 16-year-old jockey Dylan O’Connor on the Denis Hogan-trained, Premier Racing Club-owned, God Of Thunder (5/1).
The six-year-old improved to dispute the lead early in the home straight and went clear of his rivals in the final furling to beat Barrogstown Girl by four and a quarter lengths.
O’Connor commented: “They went a bit too slow for him early and I was always bringing him back, but I got a lovely run down the outside coming into the home straight and he did it well.
“He impressively won a maiden hurdle here and hopefully he can progress on the flat now.”