THE Fozzy Stack-trained Two Stars won the feature on the card, the Listed Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands Stakes, at Naas on Monday evening.
Ridden by Joey Sheridan, the 7/4 chance carried the colours of Mrs Anne Gaffney and Liam Butler to a half-length win over My Mate Alfie.
He raced prominently in second, led two out, and stayed on well to hold off the favourite My Mate Alfie to land the €26,550 first place prize.
Stack later commented: “He’s fast. If anything is in front of him, they are going too quick! Joey said where he wins his races is between the two pole and the one.
Plenty of juice
“I was a little concerned about the ground drying out, but I walked it and was happy enough. It is what they are calling it and is not a ‘summer good to yielding’. There is plenty of juice in it.
“Five is his thing and I wouldn’t like to take on Ger’s horse over six. We’ll keep him going for a little bit and then give him a break and maybe aim for the Flying Five which has a habit of coming up soft.”
The longest-priced winner on the card was when Joseph Murphy and Gary Carroll landed the mile Naas Racecourse Business Club Blackwater Handicap with 33/1 outsider Shiota.
Owned by Gerard Kervick and Crampscastle Bloodstock Ltd, the filly led over two furlongs out before keeping on to win by three-quarters of a length. The winner drifted right inside the final furlong but survived a stewards’ enquiry.
Joe Murphy junior, son and assistant trainer said: “She’s a grand filly who won here last year, also at big odds. We thought 6lb for being third in a nursery last year was harsh enough but as usual the handicapper gets proven right.
“There is a lovely fillies’ handicap in the Curragh on Guineas weekend, a three-year-old only fillies’ handicap over a mile, and that is probably where she will go next. This is a nice prize to win and we won it two years ago with Immutable, also for Mr Kervick.”
Astounding off to a fine start
SIMPLY Astounding made an impressive winning racecourse debut for Aidan O’Brien in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Sent off 11/8 favourite, the Derrick Smith/Mrs Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor-owned filly led over two furlongs out before keeping on strongly under Ryan Moore to win by one and a quarter lengths.
Aidan O’Brien said of the daughter of Wootton Bassett and the brilliant Minding: “She’s a very nice filly. She might come back here for the fillies’ race (Group 3 on May 18th) and then the Albany.
“That’s the same plan we had with Fairy Godmother (second in this maiden) last year. She’s very smart and very natural.”
Shane Foley got Love Billy Boy up close home to land the Family Fun Day May 18th Handicap over six furlongs. Sent off 9/ 2, the gelding just did enough to prevail by neck from Moltophino.
Trainer Gerard O’Leary said: “It was a lovely ride by Shane. He was unlucky in the Curragh the first day on very soft ground and the last day he just got stuck in it – Shane said it was a bit of a gluepot.
“Today he said he just got away with six furlongs on that ground.
“I’d say seven furlongs on good and six furlongs on soft. He said there is a nice pot in him.
“It’s great to get that and it’s a first winner of the year for the Purosangue Syndicate. He won in Chester last year, so we’ll aim for there.”
COLIN Keane and Danny Murphy teamed up to win the Enjoy Racing TV With A Free Trial Now Handicap with Unique Journey.
Sent off 7/2 favourite, the Trevor Dalzell, James Morgan, Karl Kirwan and Mrs John Murphy-owned gelding scored easily by seven and a half lengths from Brigid’s Cloak in a field of 17.
Danny Murphy said afterwards: “He’s won too far! I’m delighted for the bunch of lads. I’d say the five furlongs was too short for him the last day and he’s won well today.
“We have the breeze up sales coming and I want to be active. We only have two two-year-olds at the moment and want more.”
Kalixa kept on strongly to win the mile, two-and-a-half-furlong Race & Stay Fillies Maiden for Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes.
Carrying the colours of the late Aga Khan, the 12/1 chance beat Mittens by half a length.
“Weld later commented on the daughter of Kingman who was having her third outing: “She is a big filly who has progressed from two to three and we’ll see if we can get some blacktype with her.
“She got an excellent ride and is a very genuine filly. That trip probably suits her well.”
First success
Harry The Rogue gained a first career success in the concluding Best Of Luck To Our Neighbours Punchestown Ahead Of The 2025 Festival Handicap over a mile.
Sam Coen produced the Andy Slattery-trained gelding to lead inside the final furlong, before holding Roderick by a neck. Slattery said of the 7/1 winner: “I’m delighted for his owner Seamus McGrath. He’s actually working tonight – he foals for Croom House.
“He loves to have a horse and every one he’s had with me has won.
“He’s often his own worst enemy running free and today we decided to ride him a bit handier, and it worked out.
“I’d say when he learns to settle, he’ll get a mile and a quarter, and he’ll have a bit of fun with him.”