THE picturesque Quakerstown, which is set at the foot of the majestic Burren, was the location for the Co Clare point-to-point on Saturday.
A rich source of talent in recent years, with Champagne Fever, Next Destination and Bacardys all having recorded maiden victories at the venue, the opening four-year-old mares’ maiden may have produced a name to be added to that aforementioned trio, as the Richard Busher-owned, trained and bred Dawn Of Light (2/1) produced a scintillating performance to win by 20 lengths.
She benefited from a prominent Josh Berry ride, with the pair always no further than half a length off the pace. Smoothly moving to the head of affairs down the back in what was a strongly-run affair, she quickened smartly on the run to two out to open a commanding advantage, and cruised home clear of After The Ball.
“We were expecting that, we didn’t come up here for the scenery,” Busher said of the well-bred daughter of Mahler, who is a half-sister to the multiple Grade 1 winner Bravemansgame.
“She was sick last year when we ran her. We scoped her after, and she was wrong; there was an excuse for it, so we let her out straight away.”
Third time lucky
Front-running tactics were a common theme throughout the afternoon for those who were first past the post, and that was no different in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden when Ka Mate Du Brivet (4/1) scored on the third time of asking for handler Maike Magnussen and owner Martin Hastings.
Having led from flag fall, the winner had many of his rivals well strung out before three out, and he maintained a commanding advantage to run out a six-length winner under John Barry. This provided his sire Manatee with his first four-year-old winner between the flags on these shores.
Having cost just €10,000 as a store, he looks a shrewd purchase now and will no doubt reward connections handsomely at the sales.
“He was second first time out last year, and we went to Dromahane after that, and we got it all wrong, the ground was too dry and they went too fast,” Hastings commented. “This is his ground and he’s a relentless galloper.”
’Loads of ability’
The five-year-old geldings’ maiden went the way of the Brian McMahon-trained Boultydoolin (5/4) for owner Daniel Kelly. Having just his second career start after finishing third on debut in Curraghmore back in April, this son of Diamond Boy showed a game attitude to fend off the challenge of the fast-finishing Kildare D’Irlande to prevail by a length under a strong Darragh Allen drive.
A €68,000 store purchase, the winner is out of a dam who won on the flat and three times over jumps, and he is also a full-brother to the impressive Willie Mullins-trained bumper winner Cantico.
“He has loads of ability, he’s a fine big horse and is a very good moving horse,” McMahon commented.
“I can see him taking a high rank on the track in staying chases. He was just too big as a four-year-old, and the more I trained him, the weaker he got, but once he got a summer grass, he just filled out, and he’s improving every month.”
JOHNNY Barry can count himself unlucky not to have partnered a double on the card as Kayla’s Friend held a commanding four-length advantage running towards the last, only to come to grief and present the Harley Dunne-trained Port And Brandy (2/1) with a fortunate victory.
Having tracked the leaders for much of the contest, she was never far off the pace throughout. The victorious daughter of Affinisea jumped and travelled well, but got outpaced on the run to the last by what looked the likely winner, only to inherit the lead after the last and score under Frankie Murphy by two and a half lengths for the Its Gonna Happen Partnership.
The bay mare was having her fourth career start and second of the season, having been seen finishing third last time out in Tattersalls a fortnight ago, and she will now likely be sold.
The ladies open looked a competitive affair on paper as multiple Grade 1 winner Fakir Doudairies looked to make a successful pointing debut. It was to be Magic Sadler’s (5/4) race however, as the progressive son of Clovis Du Berlais doubled his winner’s tally for the season thanks to a positive front-running ride from Co Clare native Emily Costello to run out an impressive six-length winner.
Trained by Pat Doyle and carrying the silks of Patrick Brogan, the winner had many of his rivals toiling in behind on the long run to two out, and he stayed on powerfully from the back of the second last to win going away and no doubt looks a serious operator in this division for the season going forward.
THE six-year-old geldings’ maiden went the way of the Sam Curling-owned and trained Depalma to continue the stable’s strong start to the season.
Having looked held for second after jumping the second-last, the winner to his credit rallied gamely to the line to score by six lengths and provide Scottish native Nicole Lockhead Anderson with her second career success.
Having produced a nice seasonal reappearance to finish second at Loughanmore in October, he disappointed last week in Damma House when pulling up, but he swiftly put that behind him and is now likely to contest a winners’ race.
Horse to follow
Kayla’s Friend (James William Hannon): The grey daughter of Jukebox Jury crashed out at the last when holding a commanding advantage. If she is able to replicate that level of form she will shortly open her account.