TERRY Casey partnered his first winner aboard the Mick Mulvany-trained Duke Of Leggagh while his friend and colleague at Mulvany’s yard, Wesley Joyce, was also on the scoresheet to complete a big evening for Limerick city apprentices at the western fixture.
Joyce was the first to congratulate Casey after the native of Southill had the 3/1 (available at 8/1 overnight) chance prominent throughout and they led inside the final furlong to beat Autocrat by half a length in the Bellewstown Racecourse Apprentice Handicap.
“There is no better feeling than that. Michael has been very good to me, and it’s great to ride a winner on one of his,” said a delighted Casey (18).
“I used to be watching Wesley on the telly and seeing how well he was doing and that’s when I realised that I wanted to be just like him.”
Mulvany said: “It’s lovely for the young fella as he’s after hitting the goalposts a number of times.
“He’s a year and a half with us and is a good hard-working lad. He came through the same (Moyross Youth) academy as Wesley, and I’m delighted for them. He’s improving all the time and is well worth his claim.
“It took Wesley a while to get going and hopefully we can get Terry going now as well with a few winners.”
Up with the pace
Joyce was seen to good effect an hour earlier in the 0-80 handicap where Gangsta Man, like many winners on the evening, was also up with the pace throughout and kept on well under pressure to beat reserve Northern Attitude by half a length.
“He likes to go forward, and I said to Kevin (Smith, trainer) I definitely want to be in the first two and it worked out.
“When I asked him to pick up, he did and went on well,” said Joyce of the 6/1 (from 9/1) winner.
SHAMROCK Thoroughbreds, the brainchild of trainer Stephen Thorne, recorded their 100th winner as Shoot To Kill overcame some trouble in running in the straight to get up on the line for a head verdict under Jack Kearney in the Athlone Handicap.
“We are going seven or eight years now and I’m very grateful to so many people for all their support,” said Thorne after the landmark success.
He added of the 10/1 winner: “I was keen to give him a break after the all-weather because he’s been busy, and he won twice as well. He’s freshened up and the break has paid off well. They went hard, and he was lucky enough to find the gaps and was good at the line.”
Feature race
Arouet, runner-up to Nautical Force on his debut at Cork last month, reversed places with that rival to land the €30,000 feature on the card - the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 3YO Spring Series Median Auction Race.
Billy Lee’s mount struck the front over a furlong out and kept on well to score by a comfortable two lengths.
“He stepped forward nicely from his debut and I think he’s a horse with a bit of talent. I’d say he’s pretty versatile ground wise, although I don’t think he wants really fast ground, Paddy Twomey said, who trains the 7/4 favourite for Timothy Ryan.
“That’s a nice trip for now and he’ll probably go further being by Galiway,” Paddy Twomey added.
80/1 shock
The eight-race card opened with an 80/1 shock in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden where Leblon Queen, trained by Adrian Murray for Giselle De Aguiar, was up with the pace throughout and held off the late surge of Green Soul by a neck.
“She’s a nice filly at home but has certainly stepped up today and Chris (Hayes) said the biggest job he had was pulling her up. She’s a homebred and is by Galileo Gold who gets plenty of nice fillies,” the trainer said.
Sissi toughs it out from the front
GREEN Soul’s trainer and rider, Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle, went one better in the other maiden on the card - the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden - with Sissi (7/1) making all and keeping on in really game fashion to deny Alinta by a neck.
“I was delighted when I got to the front and was able to dictate things. She was good and tough the last furlong and pulled out plenty,” said Browne McMonagle of Max Morris’ homebred daughter of Waldgeist.
Wayne Lordan followed on from a great weekend when riding trebles for Aidan O’Brien at both Naas and Leopardstown by partnering Zero Fighter, trained by Eamon Delany for his daughter in law Lisa Delany and her sister Tahnee Grant, to land division one of the Next Meeting At Roscommon On Monday 19th May Handicap.
Great form
“He won here before so obviously enjoys this track. In fairness, they said he was in great form and thought he’d run a big race today,” said Lordan of the 10/1 (available at 28/1 overnight) winner.
Cherry Pink provided Ado McGuinness with a welcome winner in division two of the 0-60 handicap over an extended seven furlongs. The 4/1 shot was switched from the rail by Adam Caffrey to get a clear run and after leading about 150 yards out, just held off the challenge of Si Senor by a nose.
“She’s a great fun filly but at her level. She won on the beach last year and it’s great for Deepak (Dhand, owner) who is a local tiler beside me.
“This is his first horse and she’s won three times, so he’s been very lucky.”