QUICK conditions proved to be somewhat of a thorn in the side of declarations at this meeting as the largest field of eight assembled for the four-year-old geldings’ maiden.
The Gaynestown Stud Partnership-owned Golden Heart (3/1) picked up the initiative after the fifth fence and led until being joined at the second last by Power Of Silence.
The pair then settled down to fight it out from that point. Johnny Fogarty’s grey gelding was headed and appeared to be beaten; however, he fought back gamely to get up and score close home by half a length.
Winning rider Finny Maguire commented: “There’ll be a lot of improvement in him although he was fit. His jumping will get slicker and a more galloping track will also suit with sweeping bends.
“He’s very tough. I thought I was beaten on the home bend, but I just got him balanced and he battled well. I had a job trying to pull him up. He’s a lovely horse.”
The five-year-old geldings’ maiden was captured by Donnchadh Doyle’s Hello Fortune (5/4 - 2/1 favourite) who built on his encouraging third last time out at Monksgrange to shed his maiden tag at the third attempt.
Taken back
On the pace throughout, the Monbeg Syndicate-owned Soldier Of Fortune gelding was cannily taken back by Rob James before the third last, allowing Keep Joy to get first run on him. However, he reeled him back in with a degree of ease and went on to win by two and a half lengths.
“He was upside and the horse in front kicked on,” James explained. “I didn’t want to get there too soon, and I knew I had plenty of horse, so I let him go.
“He’s still a bit green in ways, but he jumped like a buck everywhere and stayed on well to the line.”
Philip McBurney’s consistent Cadoudal Saint (9/4 - 3/1) registered his third success in the winners of two contest.
Sustained effort
Noel McParlan covered the grey up in third for most of this race, before pulling out after the second last to challenge the leader Western Wishes. He then made a sustained effort from the top of the straight, only mastering the plucky Western Wishes in the final 100 yards.
“I was very impressed with him today,” winning handler Gerald Quinn said. “We weren’t even going to run him with the ground being too quick, but he loved it. I’d say he will end up going for another winners’ contest.
“We always thought he was a slow ground horse, especially after the way he won in Kirkistown on heavy. He seems versatile now.”
Patience pays for Cotter on Eskylady
THE opening four-year-old mares’ maiden was completed in the fastest time of the day, and this can be credited to the pace-setting exploits of Ivana D’Alco.
However, it was the debutante Eskylady (4/1 - 11/2) who benefited from this speed as she was given a patient ride by Shane Cotter.
This mare was purchased for €22,000 from the Goffs Arkle sale by Denis Murphy and is a half-sister to the once-classy Eskylane.
This Maxios-sired mare made her move just before the home straight, with a sharp turn of foot allowing her to circle her rivals on the bend. She picked up readily from there to win going away by five and a half lengths.
“She’s a nice mare; her homework is very good,” the Wexford handler said. “We’re quite fortunate this year, we’ve a lot of nice fillies. We did fancy her.
“He [Shane Cotter] gave her a very patient ride. When she got there, she won so easy, but she was a little bit green early on because of the speed they were going. Once she got in a rhythm, she just picked up easily.”
Broke her duck
The other mares’ contest on the card went the way of Kano De Thaix (4/5 - 1/1 favourite), who broke her duck at the fifth time of asking in a five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden, which effectively turned into a match contest.
The Colin Bowe-trained grey seized the initiative from the drop of the flag and never looked to be in danger at any point of this contest.
Sporting the silks of Milestone Bloodstock, she set a solid gallop throughout, with her kick off the home turn sealing the deal, as she was able to score by a diminishing length and a half over Shake The Bag.
“We always liked her. She took a bit of time and had run here and there last year, but she had a good run starting off this season,” stated rider Barry O’Neill.
“We fancied her coming here today. I’m not sure whether she’ll run again or just be sold.”
A daughter of Masked Marvel, Kano De Thaix was a €27,000 store purchase at the Goffs Arkle Sale.
THE story of the day came in the concluding older geldings’ maiden where Jack Johnson partnered Colvin (5/4 - 9/4) to register his first winner. Settled in rear from early on, this son of Yeats only started to creep into contention after the third last.
Stuart Crawford’s charge made his challenge on the outside after the home turn and stayed on strongly to hit the front inside the final 100 yards.
The rider understandably proceeded to begin jubilant celebrations close home as he scored by one-a-half-lengths over the well fancied Depalma.
“He was unbelievable!” declared the winning rider of the Martin Johnson and Samuel McCullough-owned six-year-old.
“If I had given him a better ride in Portrush he might have won. I thought I’d do the same again today and only sit a bit closer to them. To be fair to him, he took me everywhere and he winged the last and galloped to the line. He has that wee bit of speed from the track as he only ran over two miles.”
Green Hope (R. Crawford): This son of Telescope was acquired for €60,000, and was given an educational ride by Stephen Connor. Although he did clip heels after four out, this gelding stayed on to some effect after the second last and should certainly prove one to keep an eye on with a view to the future.