FLORESTA bounced back to form with a group success at Fairyhouse on Wednesday. The Johnny Murtagh-trained filly had disappointed on her return to action at Gowran this season but left that run well behind when taking the Group 3 Darley Irish EBF Stanerra Stakes.
Ben Coen settled his mount towards rear early on in the two-mile-six contest before producing her to dispute over a furlong from home. The 6/1 shot got the better of Goodie Two Shoes late on to score by a length and a half for owners Newtown Anner Stud.
“That was very good. I don’t know what happened her the last time, I really fancied her,” said Murtagh. “I couldn’t explain it so I just gave her a bit of time. She was starting to come in the last couple of weeks.
“I think she is a good stayer. She’s won a Group 3 now so we’ll probably step her up. She ran very well in a Group 2 at Doncaster last year (Park Hill Stakes) and I kind of had that on my mind again this year. She has the chance of being a real good one.”
Late lunge
Murtagh and Coen doubled up in the concluding seven-furlong handicap when Contrary To Law lunged late to land the spoils. The Ballygallon Stud-owned colt was a well-backed 13/8 favourite and came with a rattle in the closing stages to pip Rappell late on for a short-head victory.
“He’s a horse that has been given us a bit of trouble at home. He’s keen and we were running him over six furlongs just to try and hold on to him,” said Murtagh.
“I thought the step up to seven would suit him today, in a race like this with plenty of pace. Ben said he relaxed well, was a bit green when he went for him first but he said he finished the race out strongly. Hopefully he can keep improving now.”
IT was a good night’s work for Colin Keane as he bagged three winners, all for different trainers.
Livenka got the ball rolling when scoring for Juddmonte and Ger Lyons in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
The Bated Breath filly, a half-sister to Group 1 winner Babouche, went to post a 5/6 shot to make it third time lucky after two placed efforts.
Keane was soon in front and asked his mount to assert over two furlongs out as she posted a length-and-a-half success over Star Of State.
“I ran her over the wrong trip the last day and she was just a bit gassy. I left her a bit fresh,” said Lyons.
“I had no problem running her back quickly over this trip.
“Obviously we will discuss it with everybody but she holds an entry in the Ballyhane Stakes and that would be her first option as there is good prize money for there.
“Then obviously blacktype would be very important, we think she’s a stakes filly.”
Thrilling finish
Keane teamed up with Willie Mullins in the mile-six furlong rated race as Tounsivator edged a terrific duel late on with Pavilion End.
The pair fought it out from the two-furlong pole with the 5/2 favourite just having his head in front at the line for a short-head victory. Aubrey McMahon, of owners Temple Bloodstock, said: “I’m delighted. It was his first run back after a break and it was a good performance back on the level.
“He’s been to the Galway festival for the last couple of years so hopefully he pulls out alright in the morning and we’ll head back there.”
Big relief
The Michael O’Callaghan-trained Bamako Beach went to post a 4/11 shot to complete the treble for Keane in the seven-furlong maiden and it proved straightforward.
Keane was soon to the fore on the Sands Of Mali colt and he always looked to be holding Sindagan in the closing stages to record a length-and-a-half success.
“It’s a big relief. He’s a horse that we hold in extremely high regard and obviously we pitched him in at the deep end last time (in the Irish 2000 Guineas),” said O’Callaghan.
“Colin kept it simple, he said the ground was as tight as he’d want it and he was a little bit lonely when he got there.
“The autumn is probably his time. We’ll look at some seven-furlong targets with him and we will travel, he might go to France and places like that.”
JOEY Sheridan bagged a double for Joseph O’Brien early on the card courtesy of Pass The Buck and Nail House. The former went to post 11/8 favourite in the opening optional claimer and led early in the straight for a comprehensive six-length success over Borora Aura.
“He won well. He had a couple of good runs and obviously dropped in class today. I’m delighted,” said O’Brien. “I suppose he’ll go into a handicap now. The second was rated fairly low so he shouldn’t get much for that.”
Nail House was well-backed in the six-furlong maiden (from 10/1 into 3/1) and battled gamely for a winning debut. Sheridan was prominent throughout on the No Nay Never colt and got the better of Banks Of The Boyne after a tussle from the furlong pole to score by half a length.
“He did well to win, I thought it was a messy race,” said O’Brien. “He was a bit keen and it was a bit rough early for his debut. He looks like a nice horse and you’d like the start. I suppose he’ll probably be sticking to six for the moment.”
Glory To Be struck for the second time this season when charging late to land the seven furlong handicap for Michael Grassick. Wayne Lordan got a good tune from the 3/1 shot late on as she got on top in the closing stages for three-quarter-length victory over I Bid You Ajou.
“That was great. It was a bit of a tactical race,” said Grassick. “They didn’t go over fast and she was a bit keen with him. She just does what she has to do when she hits the front so it was ideal the way it panned out for her.”