THE juvenile races that began the action at Listowel on Sunday provided some of the more interesting fare at the Co Kerry track. Young trainer Danny McLoughlin won’t forget this meeting in a hurry as he saddled his first two-year-old winner.
Magny Cours (15/2 from 11s, and bigger earlier) looks promising, after proving capable of landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at the first time of asking. The daughter of Awtaad did so by a head in the hands of Ben Coen.
Magny Cours and runner-up Luna Mia drew on by two and three-parts of a length from odds-on favourite Dreamy Skies in third.
“We thought a lot of her at home,” admitted McLoughlin, who has 20 horses in training, 11 of which are two-year-olds.
“Conor Quirke, from Fermoy, and his wife, Kathryn, own her, and they’ve been very good to me. Conor got in touch at the end of last year, and from there it spiralled, and you’d swear he’s a fella I know for 10 years. He sent me two two-year-olds and I couldn’t thank him enough.
“I thought inexperience might have got the better of the filly today, but Ben said he gave her two or three, and when he put the stick down, she dug in. She’s good and genuine.”
In a bid to attain blacktype a tilt at the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Derby weekend could be in the offing now.
Michael O’Callaghan and Colin Keane came up short there with Luna Mia, and they also lost out narrowly in the opener as Gavoo (7/2) edged out their Fresh Fade by three-parts of a length in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden.
Given that the front pair left third placed Yours Sincerely seven and a half lengths back in third, the performances of the principals look particularly meritorious.
It was no surprise to hear successful handler David Marnane say of the A Touch Of Leather Syndicate-owned and Luke McAteer-ridden Gavoo: “He has the size to be a three-year-old and he isn’t a horse to be getting lofty about yet, so we’ll pick our spot with him now.
“He should improve a lot though, and I think he will end up being a very good horse.”
JUST over three lengths covered the first 11 home in the Croom House Stud Handicap. Winner of this six-furlong event, White Clover, began what could be a busy June, triumphing by half a length.
The Gary Carroll-partnered 6/1 scorer trained by Joe Murphy, represents James Purcell and Crampscastle Bloodstock. She has an entry for a premier handicap at Cork over seven furlongs next Friday.
Another with their future agenda pretty clearly marked out is Admiral Churchill, an authoritative winner of the ffour-runner Coco At The Arcade Race.
Dominant from the front Paddy Twomey’s charge (13/8) defeated marginal favourite Nobler (6/4) by three and a quarter lengths.
“Charlie (Bond, owner) is based in Yorkshire, likes running horses at those tracks in York, so I’d imagine he’ll now be going through the programme book, especially for the upcoming Ebor meeting,” commented Twomey on Billy Lee’s mount.
Galway on target
Two Eric McNamara runners went to post for the Lane Family Memorial Handicap, and his Robert Whearty-partnered 11/1 shot Ifitwasme made light of an absence since Christmas to take the two-miler in style.
Coming through to lead over a furlong out having largely taken up a midfield position, the course hurdles winner was soon clear, keeping on well to beat Chatterbox by three and three parts of a length.
The other McNamara runner, Say It So (16/1), finished ninth.
“He likes it here, will be back here in September, but will also run during the summer and could go for a two-mile flat handicap at Galway,” remarked McNamara on the Wilmott family’s Dragon Pulse gelding.
LIAMO chose a good day to put his best foot forward for connections. First though he gave his supporters some anxious moments before bagging the James Collins Memorial Handicap in the hands of Wayne Hassett.
Contracting into 12/1 from 18/1, and from bigger earlier, Liamo wasn’t as alertly away as some of his rivals, and after a patient steer made progress on the outer from over a furlong out.
He eventually got there towards the finish to gain a three parts of a length win over another of the ‘finishers,’ Dinamine.
“It’s nice for his owners who are two brothers from Abbeyfeale, so they got it in their backyard. They previously owned Dunguib,” revealed winning trainer Brendan Walsh on the Harnett-brothers owned four-year-old.
“He got upset before the start so we had to adjust his girths before the start of the race but he is normally grand. This is nice to get my first flat winner.”
Cross-card double
Henry de Bromhead completed a quick cross-card double as Gentleman Joe (3/1) took the concluding Acro Fire & Safety (QR) Race.
Hot-on-the-heels of the Waterford stable’s success at Kilbeggan through She’s A Fine Wine, John Gleeson got Gentleman Joe home by half a length on his first start since the Galway Festival.
“He had a great run at Royal Ascot last year so I’m sure where ever he goes next, he’ll give the Achesons (owners) and the de Bromheads plenty of fun,” said Gleeson.
At a stewards’ enquiry, Jodie Townend, rider of strong-finishing runner-up Sorrentino stated that there was sufficient room when she went for a gap in the home straight, and Toto Too (fifht-placed) came in towards her.
Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the raceday stewards took no further action due to the contour of the track.