THE Galway Blazers held their second meeting of the season, and the substantial gathering was treated to a seven-race card due to the four-year-old geldings’ maiden being divided.
Huge credit must go to Clerk of the Course Sean Murphy and his team for presenting the track in such immaculate condition and providing safe jumping ground in this testing and unusually long dry spell of weather.
Proceedings got underway with the four-year-old mares’ maiden, and the Robert Tector-owned and trained Crystal Du Berlais (7/2 favourite) made amends for her debut fourth-placed effort at Lingstown in March to get the better of long-time leader, Lady O’Larkin under in-form jockey Barry Stone.
The daughter of the very successful first season sire Crystal Ocean began to make progress after the second last fence and took up the running approaching the home straight to record a five-length success.
Working out
“All her work at home was good, so we’re on the boat now anyway. The form from the last day is after working out well, so we were sort of hopeful coming here today,” reported head lad Jason Lawler.
The first division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden saw nine runners go to post, and handler Jonathan Fogarty continued his phenomenal run of late in the age division when Embrace The Day (5/2) finished strongly to see off the challenge of Twilight Veil by two lengths.
The Gaynestown Stud Partnership-owned son of Fascinating Rock, was always going well but was left clear when Grand Conqueror exited three fences from home, and a big leap at the last when coming under pressure from his challenger helped him see out the contest and bring up a double on the card for Barry Stone.
“He did it very well, and his homework was good, so we were hopeful,” Fogarty said. “He is out of a very good mare, so look, it’s great to do it. He is sales-bound now, please God.”
Thrilling finish
The second division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden provided spectators with a thrilling finish as Daylatedollarshort (7/2 - 4/1) prevailed by a neck on the line to overcome the fierce challenge of Leader Crick.
Colin Bowe’s charge was always up with the running throughout the second half of the contest, and the lead changed hands on several occasions on the final circuit.
However, Bertie Finn’s Milestone Bloodstock-owned mount took it up again approaching the straight and had to fight gamely when marginally outjumped at the last to get his head in front.
“He fought hard to win to be fair, he was a private sale, I bought him off Scott Mernagh and sure he’ll go to one of the sales now. I’m delighted for Bertie, and that stallion Wings Of Eagles is a good sire.”
THE judge was almost called in the open as the Janeanne O’Neill-owned Balkito (8/1) kept on well to the line to overcome Five Star Getaway.
The imposing son of Balko drew clear of the remaining runners rounding the home bend and looked on course to win as he liked, only for his nearest challenger to eyeball him approaching the last, but to his credit he responded well to Laura Costello’s urgings, and put in a better jump to prevail.
It was a first win between the flags for the two-time track winner, with Costello combining with her next-door neighbour and handler, John O’Neill.
“He likes a bit of nicer ground and he’ll probably go for another one in Ballingarry,” commented Paul O’Neill in the aftermath.
The late spring sunshine gave a timely reminder that season’s end is looming and jockey Toni Quail must have the finishing line within the horizon in her quest for a first lady riders’ title, as she went three clear at the top of the table with success in the concluding contest of the day, the winners’ of two.
She employed brave front-running tactics aboard the John Duggan-owned Longhouse Star (3/1), who was making amends for unseating the Down native only six days previously at Dawstown to conquer the running on City Slippers by a head for Tipperary handler Sam Curling.
It’s all Whyte on the night
WHYTEMOUNT Stud sire Affinisea continued his winning streak of late as he came up with a double on the card.
First to strike was Supreme Sea (4/1) in the five-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden. The big, athletic bay was ridden confidently by Alan Harney to jump into the lead four out and quickened into the straight to go clear, recording an easy five-length success over a running on West Of Bally, for in-form handler Donnchadh Doyle and the Monbeg Syndicate.
“He did it lovely there and wasn’t it a good confident ride from Alan?” reported Robert Black, representing the absent handler. “He’s a nice horse, he’ll go to one of the sales. The sire is going well and I wouldn’t mind a few more of them.”
The sire’s double was brought up courtesy of the Gemma Casey-owned Whitewinewednesday (5/1), who got up by a head to triumph over an impressive Kottayam in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
The sister to graded performer Affordable Fury began to make her move under Brian Lawless going out on the final circuit and progressed through the field with considerable ease to throw down a challenge to the leader at the final fence and kept on best to the line for handler Joe Casey.
“She ran well in Tramore, she wasn’t beaten that far and is a nice filly who is only coming to herself,” Casey commented. “She will probably go back inside the rails for the summer.”
Horse to Follow
Kottayam (J. Staunton): The well-bred daughter of Manatee was making her debut and was just caught at the line by a very smart type. She can go one better if not sold in the meantime and looks to have a huge future ahead of her on the track.