THERE were emotional scenes at Turtulla on Sunday as Lifetime Ambition (1/1 - 5/4 favourite) delivered a poignant success in the open lightweight for novice riders at the Golden Vale Foxhounds meeting.
Trained by Pat Doyle, the 10-year-old son of Kapgarde carried the colours of the late Roger ‘Roddy’ O’Byrne, bringing up a landmark 100th winner for his owner just a week after he passed away.
A field of 12 went to post and under leading lady rider Emily Costello, Lifetime Ambition cruised into the lead on the run to three out before quickening clear in the straight to score by 10 lengths from Jetoile.
“It’s fabulous, and sure it would have been wonderful if Roddy was here to see it,” said Doyle.
“He was a wonderful man and a great friend. I’m such a lucky man, out of Roddy’s 99 winners before today, I’ve trained 33 of them.
“Lifetime Ambition is a wonderful horse, and he won’t appear again until Bellharbour, where he’ll have one run before going back to Aintree.”
Ice cold success
The opening four-year-old mares’ maiden saw another 10-length winner in the form of the Willie Murphy-trained Snow Is In The Sky (5/1 - 6/1), who benefited from a finely-timed ride under Pa King, being produced early in the straight to score in the colours of her handler.
In a steadily-run contest, long-time leader Burds Of A Feather still held the call approaching the home bend before running out, handing Potters Queen a narrow advantage.
However, once King asked his mount for her effort, the daughter of Snow Sky swept past the new leader before stretching clear and scoring in the manner of a smart prospect.
“She was bred by a syndicate from Roscommon who also own her,” said Murphy afterwards.
“She’s by our own stallion Snow Sky, and I found her dam, Timetoget, for them. I think she has a bright future going forward and she’ll go to the sales now.”
Sharp performance
In-form handler Sam Curling added to his recent run of success when the Gillian Burke-owned grey Sharp As Glass (1/1 - 11/10 favourite) landed the five-year-old geldings’ maiden, coming home alone under Derek O’Connor following the late departure of Jambon.
O’Connor allowed his mount to move through to lead from four out before Jambon joined him at the top of the straight. The pair drew right away from weary horses behind and were locked together on the approach to the final fence where Johnny Barry’s mount came to grief, simplifying matters for the son of Arctic Cosmos.
“He’s still a very babyish horse,” explained Curling. “He’s learning and improving with every run. His owners, Gillian Burke and her husband Charlie, have had a few horses with me and, while they’ve all been placed, that’s their first winner, so I’m delighted for them.”
THE cloudy afternoon was brightened by a landmark moment for 19-year-old Fethard native Aine Connolly, who enjoyed a first career success when guiding the Josh Halley-trained Lucy Wang (3/1 - 4/1) to victory in the five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
After favourite Springfield Girl set an even tempo from the outset, the race began to take shape approaching the penultimate fence, where both the John Halley-owned Lucy Wang and debutant Morning Express headed the long-time leader.
Connolly, only having her fifth ride between the flags, looked skilled beyond her experience as her mount stayed on stoutly up the run-in to secure a memorable four-length success.
“That’s my daughter Aine’s first winner and she rode it to a tee,” said a beaming Jarlath Connolly.
“With the way the ground was, we told her to ride with a bit of patience and creep away into it, and she did exactly that.
“Josh and his father John have been very good to her since she’s started, and we’d like to give them a special word of thanks.”
Ready to Tango
Connections of Morning Express didn’t have to wait long for compensation following the defeat of their home-bred newcomer, as an hour later Rilo Tango (5/4 - 6/4 favourite) justified late market support to land the concluding five-year-old and upwards maiden for handlers with 10 winners or less.
Trained by Dungarvan-based Alice Curran and owned by her father Stephen, the son of Shirocco travelled well under Adam Feeney, jumping fluently throughout before drawing clear in the closing stages to record an eight-length success over Rongoright.
“Jumping is one of his strongest attributes,” revealed the winning handler. “He could be aimed at a winners’ race in the next couple of weeks.
“My father bred both this horse and the mare who was a runner-up earlier, so it’s been a wonderful day for us.”
A FIELD of 10 lined up for the four-year-old geldings’ maiden, which produced two potentially smart performers as Tendoo (2/1 - 5/2 favourite) and newcomer Order On Time quickened off an already strong gallop in the home straight, pulling some 35 lengths clear of the remainder.
Running in the colours of the Gaynestown Stud Partnership, the Jonathan Fogarty-trained Tendoo fenced beautifully throughout.
“The son of Masked Marvel moved through to lead after the third fence and travelled well under Barry Stone, responding for pressure when challenged by Order On Time in the straight, eventually keeping on best to secure a three-length victory.
“He’s a nice horse who was a €60,000 store at the Derby Sale and was running an excellent race at Curraghmore last season before falling two out,” said Mikey Fogarty, brother and representative of the winning handler.
Horse to follow
Order On Time (S. T. Doyle): A €36,000 Derby Sale purchase who ran a cracker on debut. A son of Order Of St George out of a winning Authorized mare, made good progress in the final mile giving it his all from the third last, losing nothing in defeat. Based on this, he should be able to go one better in the near future if not sold.