RACEGOERS who attended the 137th running of the South Westmeath point-to-point at Umma House were treated to a glorious autumn afternoon with some quality racing, which was highlighted by a Colin Bowe and Bertie Finn treble.

The Wexford duo kicked off their domination of the meeting in the four-year-old geldings’ maiden with Sunset Carousel (5/2) producing a dominant front-running display to run out a six-length winner.

A son of Kew Gardens who was a €30,000 store purchase, the Milestone Bloodstock charge was having his third career start, having last been seen pulling up in Ballycrystal last season.

Always travelling ominously well at the head of affairs, the winner had many of his rivals hard ridden before quickening on the run to four out. Despite an untidy leap at the last, the winner only required a hands and heels ride to the line.

Captain sings winning tune

The Bowe and Finn partnership had little time to wait as they recorded a double in the following contest, the five-year-old geldings’ maiden when Captains Song (4/5 favourite) prevailed by a neck to get up on the shadows of the post to defeat newcomer Governor Max.

The winner, a son of Ocovango, was having his third career start, having last been seen pulling up in Borris House in March.

Sent to post as the odds-on favourite, backers who took the short price would have feared the worst as he appeared to be hard-ridden and two lengths off the leader and eventual runner-up as they disappeared before approaching the second last.

Still looking well-held two from home, Finn galvanised his mount in what was a contrast to his previous success to score in a thrilling finish, with the front two pulling some 64 lengths clear of the third.

Supreme success

The treble was sealed in the concluding contest of the afternoon as Supreme Walk (2/1) got off the mark at the fifth time of asking in the older geldings’ maiden.

As Derby Rock set a strong tempo, holding a 10-length advantage at times, Bertie Finn’s mount moved menacingly well into the contest to jump into a share of the lead three from the finish before asserting on the run to two out to run out an easy five-length winner.

REDACRESMIRIAM (3/1) was the sole runner of the afternoon for Mick and Harry Goff, and a successful one as she scored in the four-year-old mares’ maiden by two lengths in a prominent front-running fashion.

Having just her second career start, this daughter of Order Of St George was always prominent and was sent to the head of affairs by Harry Goff after the completion of a circuit.

She injected pace into the contest on the run to five out and had many of her rivals working hard in behind, with the race in safe keeping after a commanding leap at the last. A €30,000-store purchase, she is a sister to the potentially smart Red Acres Max, who sold for £240,000 after his success in Dromahane last November and has since scored in a bumper for Jamie Snowden.

“That mare is a star; that’s the only way I’d describe her,” the winning handler said. “I couldn’t see her being beaten today.

“She’s got some ability; she was to be held up and come with a run, but Harry said she was just jumping out of his hands, and he couldn’t take her back anymore. She’s the best I’ve had for a while,” added Goff.

Late run

The five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden went the way of Aint Over Yet (3/1) for the Nigel Slevin yard.

The bay returned to the pointing fields having finished second at the same fixture last season in a four-year-old mares’ maiden and had a couple of runs on the track with little success.

Patiently ridden throughout by David Doyle, the winner was last of the five runners for much of the race, and having jumped two out, she still appeared well held in fourth with plenty to do, but to her credit, this daughter of Getaway stuck to the task late on to score by a head.

Chasing a bonus

A €5,000 foal purchase, she will now likely head for a winners’ race or return to the track, with her winning owner Judith Long stating: “She could go back to the track for a bumper or a hurdle; maybe one of the ITBA bonuses would be nice, but we will talk to Nigel.

“She lost her way when she went to the track, her runs last year in point-to-points probably took more out of her than we thought.”

THE open race for novice riders saw handler Paurick O’Connor and jockey Billy Coonan team up to land the spoils with Magic Tricks (4/1).

Patiently ridden by Coonan for much of the race, Magic Tricks was smuggled into the contest, having looked in some trouble jumping three out.

This son of Davidoff rallied to take a share of third, jumping two out before coming with a winning run late on to prevail by a head and fend off the challenge of Yewtree Hill.

Carrying the silks of O’Connor’s head girl Claire MacMahon, the winner will now head for a ladies’ open race.

Horse to follow

Faith Formation (J. P. Flavin): This €26,000 son of Order Of St George appeared to be full of running when falling four from home as he disputed the lead with the eventual winner and runner-up. Having just his second start, he could be a useful prospect next time out.