BARNAVARA proved half a length too strong for even-money favourite Red Letter at the end of an extended mile in the Listed Darley Irish EBF Kooyonga Stakes.
The Calyx filly took third place in a Group 3 at the Curragh last month, which saw her backed from 6/1 to 3/1 for this €55,000 contest.
She picked up the lead after a furlong and dictated throughout for Shane Foley. Her advantage was reduced by 111-rated Red Letter inside the final furlong and the challenger soon looked a big danger, however, Barnavara dug deep in the closing stages to score by half a length for Jessica Harrington and Alpha Racing.
Assistant trainer Kate Harrington said: “I think the draw helped and she made it a test down in grade. I think that is her perfect ground, good to yielding.
“She’s huge and is going to develop - we will get her home and map out a plan. That was Red Letter’s second run (of the season) and no doubt she is going to come on a tonne.”
Ascot a possibility
Aidan O’Brien unleashed another highly-promising juvenile as Warsaw made a winning start to his career in the Lynn Lodge Stud Irish EBF Maiden over five furlongs.
The 18/1 shot, who the market had as third string of O’Brien’s trio of runners, soon tracked the leaders and was sent on by Jack Cleary a furlong and a half out.
He lengthened away in the final furlong and won by two and three-quarter lengths for Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, D Smith and Westerberg.
Stable representative Chris Armstrong said: “He started at five (furlongs) today and we thought coming here he would be able to go six. Jack said he will have no problem going seven, so it is a good sign.
“He was professional, he travelled and did everything right. If he comes out of it well, we could look at maybe one of the Ascot races.”
Strong finish
Fair Taxes (3/1) stayed on well for Jamie Powell to get up a neck in the Navan Racing Festival Early Bird Tickets On Sale Now Handicap over five furlongs for owners Mrs Noeleen McCreevy, James McCreevy, Peter McCreevy and Jack McCreevy.
His strong finish enabled him to collar Little Queenie with Thunderbear a short head out of the places in third.
Ross O’Sullivan said: “Strong performance and got a nice light weight. Came up well up the drier ground and maybe he will get into a Rockingham (at Curragh) or something like that.”
Robert Whearty, jockey on Little Queenie, was handed a four-day suspension in relation to a careless riding incident in the closing stages.
STEP Back In Time made light of a sixth-place finish in Fairyhouse the previous evening, when winning for the third time in Navan.
The 17/2 chance contested the Navan Handicap over five furlongs and made all under Rory Cleary from stall nine, before keeping on well in the final furlong to strike by a length and three quarters for owner Siobhan Tolerton.
Chris Timmons said: “She didn’t run badly last night and licked the pot this morning.
“We were keen to try going round a bend and I don’t think she likes being crowded.
“I think so (go for straight sprints), we might stick to Navan if possible. It is not too far away from us as well, which is good.”
Dictating
Bellacanta (14/1) was another horse to dictate off the front in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden over the extended 10 furlongs.
She was strongly pressed by Treasure Rose inside the final furlong, but kept up the gallop for Nathan Crosse to pass the post with three-quarters of a length in hand for owner Ms Madeline Burns.
Willie McCreery said: “She just followed the rail from where she came from (unseated Crosse after the line), but everything seems okay. You’d like the way she fought back and went on again. Lovely first run and a nice second run, but Nathan just thought she didn’t like to go up into the horses, so we said today we would jump and try and make it.”
A LARGE contingent of the Wet Room Syndicate were on hand to cheer Ragmans Corner home in the Balreask Bar, Catering At Navan Racecourse Handicap.
The six-year-old gelding made headway for Jack Kearney three furlongs out and improved into second a quarter of a mile out.
He worked his way to the front a furlong down and stayed on by two lengths at 9/2.
Gerry Keane said: “They are a local syndicate. He’s very good over hurdles, he’s a serious jumper. He’ll mix it now. The lads would be anxious to go to Galway, there’s a few races for him there anyway.”
Landing a gamble
Arcland landed a gamble when victorious in the Cusack Hotel Group Family Raceday July 13th Handicap. The nine-year-old gelding was making his second start since switching to Gavin Cromwell for whom he finished runner-up in a Downpatrick handicap hurdle last month.
Robert Whearty settled him in mid-division and sustained progression saw them lead with a furlong to race. They kept on to see it out by three-parts of a length from Maxwell Smart for owner Eugene Blaney. From 14/1 in the morning, he was backed down to 6/4 favourite.
Cromwell said: “First run for us over hurdles in Downpatrick was very encouraging. He was off a very low mark there today. He’s going to get a penalty, but I can’t imagine it could be too big, he’s still going to be in the low grade.”
Whearty picked up a three-day ban for frequency with the whip aboard the winner.