ALL roads led west to the scenic Inchydoney Island on Sunday for the annual Clonakilty meeting, run under the auspices of the Carbery Foxhounds. Colin Bowe maintained his advantage in The Irish Field handlers’ championship by saddling two winners.
Bowe got the ball rolling courtesy of newcomer Paxman in the Scallys Super Valu, Clonakilty four-year-old maiden. Sparta Maestro took the 12 runners along at a cracking pace as Barry O’Neill kept the eventual winner covered up in mid-division. Paxman (5/1), one of the paddock-picks, moved ever closer on the ascent from the fourth last of the 15 obstacles and he surged past Sparta Maestro after the third last.
The winning son of Jeremy was clearly on top from two out and he ultimately defeated stable-companion Some Detail by three lengths. Favourite Embittered benefited from the final fence fall of Sparta Maestro, who was lying third at the time, to secure the minor honours a further 10 lengths adrift.
Paxman is owned by Co Wicklow’s Diana Duff and is a close relation to Irish 1000 Guineas third Storm Dream. Speaking about Paxman, Bowe said: “He’s a lovely horse and he will now go to the sales.”
Bowe was back in the coveted number one slot following the authoritative success of Legend Of Zorro, representing the Executors of the late Willie Codd, in the McCarthy Greenbuild Construction five-year-old geldings’ maiden.
Legend Of Zorro (6/1), who was having a fifth career start, atoned for pulling up on his return to action at Bartlemy two weeks earlier, by forging to the front after the fourth last. When the field reappeared on the run to the third last, the winning son of Touch Of Land was gone beyond recall and Rob James’ mount duly returned with nine lengths to spare over Nativegetaway in the style of a horse that should win again.
COMFORTABLE
Drawn N Drank has hit a rich vein of form of late and the 12-year-old supplemented his Oldcastle success from the previous Sunday by coming home as he pleased in the Clonakilty Blackpudding & Clonakilty Point-To-Point open, much to the dismay of the 13 bookmakers present.
Drawn N Drank (2/1), winner of the hunters chase formerly known as the Joseph O’Reilly Memorial at Fairyhouse in 2015, was always positioned at the head of affairs and he set sail for home with regular partner Turlough O’Connor after securing a flier at the fourth last. It was all plain sailing from three out as the veteran accounted for Ringrone Castle by seven lengths.
Eugene O’Sullivan, handler of Drawn N Drank and sister-in-law of owner Irene Walsh said: “This track suited him and it also helped that it rained here in Clonakilty last night.” She added: “He loves ground with plenty of cut in it and he will now be entered in the four-mile open at Kinsale, but he will probably only run if we have a wet week.”
Ringrone Castle’s stable-companion Sandycove Island, who finished second to Drawn N Drank in the Oldcastle open, benefited from a drop down in grade by landing the Clona Dairies winners of one in the colours of his handler Ruaidhri Tierney’s younger sister Aine.
Sandycove Island (3/1) was another to benefit from waiting tactics and, although not exactly clever four out, he made his way to the front with Eoin O’Brien before the third last and he then seemed set for a comfortable success. Runner-up Starozov kept the triumphant eight-year-old honest as he closed on the flat to get within two lengths at the line. Tierney’s father Finbarr, who bred the gelding, indicated that Sandycove Island will probably now run at his local Kinsale fixture this weekend.
Marilyn Monroe made a dazzling frontrunning performance in the first division of the Fernhill House Hotel & Gardens five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden.
The Willie Murphy-owned and trained Marilyn Monroe (4/1), a half-sister to a pair of JP McManus-owned mares’ in Regal Encore and The Organist, benefited from a well-judged ride from Pa King. She made all the running on what was her second career start. The winning daughter of Scorpion stormed clear from two out to dispose of You Know The Story by 10 lengths. Breeder John Browne still holds a keen interest in Marilyn Monroe and she is now likely to be left off for the summer.
The 11-year-old Cloneen Dream, the only horse that Bandon-based owner/trainer Robert Moloney has in harness at present, came home as she pleased under a motionless Derek O’Connor in the second division of this contest.
Cloneen Dream (5/1) eased to the head of affairs after the fourth last and she bounded clear from two out to beat the only other finisher, Kilbree Shadow, by 15 lengths.
Moloney revealed that he purchased Cloneen Dream less than two months ago on the recommendation of James Hannon after his mare Michealamaystar suffered an injury, and paid tribute to James Dullea for the use of his gallops.
EVENTFUL
The Springmount Stud & Clonakilty Point-To-Point six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden concluded proceedings and it developed into a most eventful affair.
The drama started when favourite Captains Run slipped. This was merely a precursor for what was about to come as long-time leader Vermout Fougeray cruelly unseated his rider when travelling best with a three-length advantage at the final fence.
Runner-up Bunninadden was left in front, but he was overtaken by the Declan Queally-ridden Uallrightharry who went on to win by two lengths. Uallrightharry (9/2), who previously finished second to Cousin Pascal at Dromahane, is trained by Margaret Flynn for Valerie Madden.
Meaningful win
THE late Willie Codd was in the thoughts of all present following the success of Legend Of Zorro, representing his Executors, in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Legend Of Zorro, who shaped with promise for Codd last season, is now under the care of Colin Bowe.
The Milestone Stables handler said: “It’s great to train a winner for the executors of the estate of the late Willie Codd. Willie died in February this year and he was a lovely chap that was a good friend of mine.”