COLIN Keane rode a double at the twilight meeting at Roscommon on Monday evening. Sir Jeremy formed the first leg when staying on best to land the Connolly’s Red Mills Handicap.
Sent off 7/2, the Ciara and Clodagh Morris-owned gelding led over a furlong out, staying on strongly to score by a length and three-quarters.
Trainer Noel Meade said: “He saw the trip out and liked the ground. He didn’t run particularly well for me on his first run, we were a bit disappointed with him.
“He’s just started to show a bit recently again. We’ll try something similar with him. I’d say he just likes to get his toe in, he probably wouldn’t like it too heavy. We might jump him over a hurdle and see how we go.”
Keane added to that earlier success when partnering the Andrew McNamara-trained Superficial to win the Racing Again Here On June 8th Handicap.
Sent off 4/1 for the Rathconrath Racing Club, the gelding led a furlong out, keeping on best to score by two and three-quarter lengths. “He’s maybe had a couple of unlucky days,” said McNamara.
“He’s big and doesn’t have the most amazing action so I’d say a bit of juice helped and this is probably his ideal ground. We went hurdling with him, which didn’t really work out, but we’ll probably give it a go again at some stage.”
WESLEY Joyce rode the Michael Mulvany-trained Arizona Raider to win the featured Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden. Sent off 11/4, the Sean Cahill-owned colt had to work hard before eventually recording a three-quarter-length verdict over Penny Benjamin.
“We were confident enough coming today, we were just afraid of the ground. He wants nice ground,” said Mulvany. “His form is rock solid and he’s improving all the time. The dream was, with Sean, that we’d go to Royal Ascot. We’ll make a decision and he’d probably go to the Coventry if he was going there.”
Trainer Henry de Bromhead sent out another flat winner as Huff’n’puff rallied close home under Billy Lee to land the Michael Tiger Lyons Memorial Maiden.
Making most
Making most of the running, the Denis Howard-owned 10/3 chance was ridden and headed by Changing Lanes over a furlong out. However, he showed real determination to battle back close home to gain a neck verdict.
Stable representative Robbie Power said: “Billy said afterwards that he wants a mile and a half. He wasn’t for passing. We might look for a three-year-old only handicap over a mile and a half. We’ll see what options there are for him.”
Having recorded a course win last year, Thrifty Of Digby showed her liking for the track when making all to land the Knockcroghery Handicap. Smartly into stride under Shane Foley, the Pat Harty-owned 11/1 chance stayed on in determined fashion to beat Zabriskie Point by two and a half lengths.
“She loves Roscommon, she just loves it around here, and she was back in that grade,” said trainer Jessica Harrington. “She’s very game and genuine, gets out in front and just gallops away. We’ll try and find something else for her now, she’s got four wins now and been placed four times.”
THE Michael O’Callaghan-trained Adel benefitted from a step up in trip to win the Abbey Hotel Handicap. Sent off 11/1 under Jamie Powell, the Adel Partnership-owned gelding led early in the straight, keeping on to win by half a length.
“He was very keen throughout, he was stepping up in trip a lot,” said Powell. “He’s always a horse that travels well but he just wasn’t finding. We thought going up in trip he might have the class to just travel and stay going. I think coming back to a mile and a quarter will probably be better for him. He’s did it well, he enjoyed everything and hit the line well. He’s only coming into his own now, he’s a bit babyish but he’s starting to find his feet.”
Soul mate
Favourite backers got off to a winning start as the well-supported Mo Anam Chara landed the opening Roscommon Claiming Maiden. Backed from 2/1 into 6/5 favourite, Ronan Whelan led early on the Circus Maximus filly owned by his mother, Kathleen.
Headed by Queen Of Newark after a couple of furlongs, Whelan was content to sit second on the Mark Fahey-trained three-year-old before renewing his challenge early in the straight.
Leading over a furlong out, Mo Anam Chara stayed on well to win by a length and a quarter from Star Of Beauty with Queen Of Newark back in third.
“She has good form and she’s probably still well handicapped, I think,” said Fahey. “If she’s claimed whoever claims her will knock good fun out of her, she’s a good sound horse. If she’s not she’ll win a few races for us.”
Late lunge
Miss Australie came with a strong late run under Adam Caffrey to win the concluding Roscommon Handicap.
Sent off 6/1, the Ado McGuinness-trained mare led close home to register a length and three-quarters win for owners Reddy/Dhand/Walsh/Murphy.
“The ground was probably a big help,” said McGuinness.
“I’m delighted for the lads, they are west of Ireland people. Noel Walsh and the lads, and Dave Keena has a leg in her as well.
“In fairness to Adam, he was very good on her, he took his time and she finished out really well. I thought it was a very good ride, a clever ride. She is what she is and we’ll have a bit of fun with her.”