SAM Curling dominated the Tipperary Foxhounds’ first fixture of the season at Lisronagh last Saturday by bringing up a memorable treble on the card as the Skehanagh ace continues his blazing start to the new campaign.
The first of the Co Tipperary handler’s successes came in the form of Jury Time (2/1-9/4), who put previous experience to good use when scoring in the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden for owner Ken Duggan.
In a field of 11, which saw favourite Everyday Life set a brisk gallop from the outset, the daughter of Jukebox Jury was settled in mid-division by Derek O’Connor before being produced with her challenge at the penultimate fence and was in command from that point onwards, accounting for Spring Waltz by two lengths.
“It’s great for the lads, John and Ken Duggan,” commented Curling. “John used to have Longhouse Music among other good horses with me and Ken is his nephew. They’re with me a long time, so it’s a great result. She’ll be kept and she’ll now progress to the track.”
Confident ride
Further success soon followed for Curling as the strongly supported Ellens Pride (4/6-1/1 favourite) justified market confidence, when benefiting from an ultra-confident David Doyle ride to score in the five-year-old mares’ maiden for owners, Finns Racing Syndicate.
Having shaped with promise at Tinahely a fortnight earlier, the Berkshire-sired mare was anchored towards the rear for the majority of the six-runner contest. Last season’s U21 champion rider gradually made headway to challenge between the final two fences.
Still motionless in the saddle on the run to the last, he allowed his mount to ease past long-time leader Springfield Girl before pushing her out to win by a length and a half.
“She got a brilliant ride today,” emphasised the winning handler. “David is a very good rider, and I’m spoiled with himself and Derek riding for me. You wouldn’t get any better and he’s definitely a young man going places.
“The owners are a local syndicate, and they had her with Tim Doyle previously. David suggested to go point-to-pointing with her, so she’ll probably return to the track now.”
Derek’s double
A memorable afternoon was then capped by The Great Unknown (1/4-1/6 favourite), who completed the treble by taking the mares’ open while also supplying Derek O’Connor with a brace.
The six-year-old Walk In The Park mare, owned by Curling’s mother Adelia Greer, was briefly headed by Hero In The Sky at halfway but soon regained command when O’Connor pressed the button from two out, asserting to win by three lengths.
“She’s been a super mare for my mother, and she’ll keep improving,” said Curling. “She only ever does enough and, while she’ll continue to be campaigned in mares’ opens, she’ll also go for a hunter chase this year.”
A FIELD of 10 went to post for the four-year-old geldings’ maiden, which saw Midnight In Tokyo (3/1-4/1) finish fastest under a strong Luke Murphy drive to secure victory for Co Wexford handler Paul Pierce on only his second career start.
Acquired for €25,000 at the 2024 Derby Sale, the son of Westerner jumped and travelled well in the colours of Blackhall Stables Partnership.
Plenty still held claims going into the final mile, but once the pace quickened Midnight In Tokyo displayed a courageous attitude to come out on top in a driving three-way finish, eventually taking the spoils by a neck from debutant Sporting Gerard.
“We thought he’d win on debut,” revealed Andy Pierce, brother of the winning handler. “We let him off and he’s been flying at home since he’s come back in, so we were hopeful coming here today. My father-in-law, Micheál owns him so it’s super. He’ll go to the sales now.”
The five-year-old geldings’ maiden saw the most dramatic finish of the afternoon, which ultimately resulted in a dead-heat when Global Fortune (3/1-4/1) and Spill A Drop (5/4-6/4 favourite) finished in unison and could not be separated at the line.
After heading pace-setter Jonzac on the run to the final fence, riders Adam Feeney and Barry O’Neill settled down for an old-fashioned set-to up the run-in, the pair flashing past the post to share the spoils.
Spill A Drop, a son of Kingston Hill trained by Colin Bowe for owners Brian and Joe Moran, was making amends for falling on debut at Loughrea in October, while the Tom Keating-owned and trained Global Fortune was stepping forward from an initial start at Stowlin last season.
“He’s a nice horse who was a €26,000 store purchase at the Derby Sale,” explained Keating. “He has a good turn of foot and he’s a horse that could run well in a bumper. We’ll sell him now.”
THE concluding older maiden brought the curtain down on the fixture in heartwarming fashion, as Lawful Ruler (6/1) provided 18-year-old Garristown native Tadhg Stafford with a memorable first career success, while also giving his sister Abbie her first winner as a handler.
Owned by their father James Stafford, the six-year-old gelding was sent to the front by his young rider before the third last. Lawful Ruler stayed on strongly to the line to record an unforgettable five-length victory, to the delight of the Stafford family.
“He’s a gentleman to do anything with and you’d like to think he’ll be able to step up into winners’ races now, but if somebody wants to buy him, we’ll sell him,” said James Stafford. “That’s Tadhg’s first winner and Abbie’s first success as a handler. Tadhg is 18 years old, works for us at home, and rides out for Conor Maxwell and Gavin Cromwell.”
Horse to follow
Sporting Gerard (M. Flynn O’Connor): A €65,000 July Store Sale purchase who ran a cracker on debut. The son of Order Of St George made good progress in the final mile of the contest before throwing down a challenge before two out and battling well to the finish, ultimately only going down by a neck at the line.