THE Ward Union Staghounds stepped in at short notice to host an additional fixture at Tattersalls last Sunday. Due to the recent dry spell of weather, the hunt committee worked to ensure that every effort was made to present the Co Meath track in exceptional racing condition, and their efforts were duly rewarded with some excellent action throughout the afternoon.
The opening four-year-old mares’ maiden saw one of the most fiercely contested finishes of the day, as the Denis Murphy-owned and trained Moonlight Paradise (4/1) made a winning debut.
By Walk In The Park and out of a four-time winning King’s Theatre mare, she travelled eye-catchingly under Shane Cotter and eventually stayed on best to beat Poetry Motion and Is She Real, who tied for second.
“She had been bought as a foal here at Tattersalls for €20,000, and her homework was very good coming here today,” Murphy revealed. “I think she’s going to win a lot of races and she’s for sale.”
Timmy takes off
Another horse returning to the Co Meath sales venue to make a successful introduction was the Cormac Doyle-trained Timmys Jet Away (5/2 – 3/1), who took the second division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden for owners Monbeg Farm Racing Partnership.
Having initially been dropped in by Darragh Higgins, the son of Jet Away gained lengths at his obstacles, and an excellent leap at the final fence saw him land with a share of the lead before battling bravely up the run-in to head long-time leader Be My Fortune.
“His dam is a half-sister to Ferny Hollow,” the winning handler explained. “He was a €27,000 store who we bought here at the Derby Sale last year, and he’ll come back for the May Point-to-Point and Horses in Training Sale on May 29th.”
Level the playing field
The late addition of this fixture rekindled the thrilling battle for the eastern region riders’ title between Wexford aces Barry Stone and Rob James. After a near miss earlier in the afternoon, James registered a 21st winner in the region and drew level with Stone when he trained and rode Coral Sunset (4/1) to victory in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
Carrying the famous Dawn Run colours of her winning owner Ben Hill, the daughter of Pillar Coral looked set to battle it out with fellow newcomer Prophetess Miriam when the latter crashed out at the final fence.
“She will be retained by her owner, and the plan is that she will now go to Henry de Bromhead to be trained,” James revealed. “That winner puts me level with Barry for the eastern title, and we’ve now decided to share it.”
CORK handler Colin Motherway enjoyed a brace of winners, and the opening leg of his double saw Eagle Warrior (3/1 – 7/2) make virtually all to take the opening division of the four-year-old geldings’ maiden by five lengths under in-form rider Mikey Kenneally.
Running in the colours of the Sunny South Syndicate, the son of Wings Of Eagles showed a creditable attitude to repel all comers throughout the final mile.
“He’s a brother to the Henry de Bromhead-trained Taponthego, who was placed in the Martin Pipe this year,” the winning handler stated.
“He has a savage pedigree, so hopefully the future is bright for him. He’s for sale now.”
Doubling up
The second leg of Motherway’s brace was landed when Frankie’s Freebie (3/1 – 9/2) followed up to score in the second division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden by two and a half lengths from Button Rock.
Owned by his handler’s wife Linda, the son of Pour Moi reeled in the long-time leader on the run to the final fence, before pulling clear to cap a memorable afternoon for winning connections and continue the outstanding run of rider Kenneally, who was also registering a double.
“Mikey gave him a peach of a ride the whole way,” Motherway acknowledged.
“They’ve done a great job with the ground here today, and this lad will head for the sales now.”
Successful season
A field of 12 runners lined up for the opening division of the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, and it was the Ian McCarthy-trained Cave Bridge (6/1) who stepped forward from a debut effort at Curraghmore.
He made smooth progress through the field under a confident Eoin Mahon, before producing a strong-finishing effort to record a length and a half victory for winning owners, The Kilmannin Partnership.
Mahon was registering a 16th winner of the campaign in what has been his best season to date.
“He improved for a bit of better ground today,” McCarthy explained. “He’s a grand, straightforward horse.
“He relaxed there today, got into a rhythm, and jumped well. He’ll now be offered for sale.”
AFTER a spell on the sidelines due to a collarbone injury, Josh Berry returned to the winner’s enclosure when partnering Five Star Getaway (5/2) to victory in the open lightweight contest for novice riders.
Trained by his father, Johnny, and owned by his mother, Shirley, the 11-year-old son of Getaway built on a promising runner-up effort at Loughrea to win snugly here and provide connections with a special family success.
“He came from Christian Williams, and that will be him for the season,” the winning handler explained. “The plan is to keep him as an open horse next year, but if he were able to win one or two, we might consider a hunter’s chase for him.”
The final contest of the afternoon drew the smallest field of the day, with only four runners heading to post for the winner’s race. With his task made easier following the early exit of favourite Turnupdevolume, it was the John Duggan-owned Longhouse Star (2/1 – 5/2) who backed up his recent Loughrea success to score by 16 lengths under leading lady rider Toni Quail for handler Sam Curling.
“That’s his third time to win this season, and he’s quite a consistent horse. I’d just like to thank Sam for all the support he’s given me throughout the year,” Quail commented, who is now four winners clear in the lady riders’ standings heading into the final weekend of the season.
Horse to Follow
Is She Real (C. Motherway) is a newcomer daughter of Yeats that was doing all of her best work at the finish in the four-year-old mares’ maiden. The penny only seemed to be dropping late on as she gained lengths on the leaders up the run-in to force a tie for second. With this initial experience under her belt, she should easily be able to go one better.