THE Galway Blazers staged the first of their two annual fixtures at Dartfield on Sunday, which saw reigning champion rider Derek O’Connor begin the defence of his western and national titles.
O’Connor initiated his title challenge in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden aboard Melenas Colombe (5/4 - evens favourite), whom he also trains, to a three-and-a-half-length victory.
The well-supported favourite was the first runner that O’Connor has been enlisted to train for the Holdens, with the partnership off to the best possible start.
A clear standout in the parade ring beforehand, this athletic son of Cokoriko was a €150,000 store purchase and boasts an impressive pedigree, being a half-brother to the multiple Grade 1 winner Gerri Colombe.
Racing just off the pace in fourth for much of the contest, the winner always travelled with ease throughout. He made eye-catching progress on the run to two-out to jump into a share of the lead with the eventual runner-up before showing an impressive turn of foot to quickly clear to the last to score by three and a half lengths.
“I was very nervous running this horse; he’s a super horse, super jumper and he’s a great traveller,” O’Connor reported.
High-profile horse
“My horses weren’t right in the spring last year, and I couldn’t chance running such a high-profile horse like him.
“That gave me great pleasure, as myself and Paul Holden have been together for a good number of years now.”
Handler Gary Murphy enjoyed a blistering start to the new season as he saddled two winners in less than 24 hours when Bonnie Long Legs (2/1) prevailed by a length and a half in the four-year-old mares’ maiden.
An intriguing contest, it was also a fine ride from Shane O’Rourke in the saddle as, despite making the running for much of the contest, the pair dropped into second five from home.
To his credit, he never rushed his Turbine Syndicate-owned mount and came with a well-timed challenge to dispute the lead two from home before asserting to the line to fend off the challenge of the Colin Bowe-trained Roze.
“This is a lovely filly, I don’t actually own her, my vet in the yard does,” Murphy said. “She was a bit weak last year and was too good of a filly to be running on good ground last season.
“She’s a lovely filly, great pedigree; she always did everything you wanted.”
Restarted
A somewhat messy affair, the five-year-old geldings’ maiden was far from a straightforward event, with a false start occurring, with the riders oblivious to the flagman who was stationed inside the track.
All but one of the 12 runners completed a full circuit before the race had to be restarted, with most having to complete a four-mile contest.
It was the Teresa Flood-owned Fierce Friend (6/4 - 2/1), the only runner to remain at the start and not complete a full circuit, who scored at the fifth time of asking, having last been seen finishing second last season in Ballindenisk.
Sent off second favourite, having just his first start since joining the Flood operation, the winner was always prominent before moving to a share of the lead on the swinging bend for home before the last two fences.
The winner held a slight advantage under Georgie Benson jumping two out, before opening a two-length advantage before the last and just held off the strong late challenge of Barna.
AR Aghaidh Leat (6/4 - 5/4 favourite) struck for the Ross O’Sullivan yard to land the five-year-old mares’ maiden, benefitting from a patient Lee Shanahan ride.
Having not appeared to be travelling for long spells and racing towards the rear for much of the contest, this daughter of Shirocco still sat in ninth position three from the finish before being hard ridden on the run to two out with plenty of work still to do.
She took a share of third, jumping two-out before forging on to the last to open a length advantage and run out a three-length winner at the line for the Ar Aghaidh Leat Partnership.
“She’s a very forward mare; you just have to switch her off early on,” Tom Harney, assistant trainer to O’Sullivan, said.
Flew home
“The last day she ran in Fairyhouse there were 17 runners, and it’s a very hard thing to drop out last, but she flew home and finished fourth.
“It was a smaller field today and a big long straight; it suited her. I didn’t think it was going to happen with a circuit to go, but Lee gave her a lovely patient ride, and it all worked out.”
The six-year-old geldings’ maiden for novice riders went the way of Couldntmakeitup (evens favourite), a son of Court Cave that was steered to victory by Ronan McParland for handler and owner James Nash.
Having had several previous outings hurdling on the track with little success, he clearly displayed a liking for chasing with a first effort in this sphere.
Good battle
Having sat third for much of the contest, he overcame a good battle with the eventual second from the long run to the second last before forging on to a two-length advantage before the last to run out a fine winner.
Having been sent to post as a short-priced favourite, he justified market support and will now likely head for a winners’ race before going over fences on the track.
First win for Whyte
THE concluding race on the card saw local 19-year-old Craughwell native Colm Whyte register his first success between the flags when partnering the Liam Gilligan-trained Seventy Eight Team (5/1) to a three-length success in the silks of Natalie Gilligan. Having had two runs on the track over fences during the summer, Seventy Eight Team had failed to hit the frame, but the daughter of Mahler clearly benefited from calmer waters of this contest.
“I’m based with the Gilligans full time,” Whyte said. “I just said I’d take my time and try to get her jumping. I started travelling when turning for home. She had a few runs on the track, and they were a bit disappointing. She’s a very honest mare, and she ran well today. It’s great to get a winner, especially at my local track.”
Horse to Follow
Shadow Of Dawn (R. James): this son of Poets Word was having just his second career start and looks a winner in waiting if he can tidy up on his jumping.