Eoghain Ward

SHANE Fitzgerald confirmed himself as one of the rising stars of the weigh-tent when recording his first ever treble, which included teaming-up with his boss Michael Goff to claim both divisions of the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot and Cheltenham sales four-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Fitzgerald deserved all the plaudits lavished on him by the winning Wexford handler following the success of Fabulous Saga (4/1 co-favourite) in the opening division. The Cork native sent the newcomer into a clear advantage after the halfway point, before being allowed to extend his lead by upwards of 30 lengths as the field entered the back straight on the final circuit.

To the credit of the Saint Des Saints gelding, he was not for stopping despite a searching gallop and returned 10 lengths clear of Oscar Nomination to produce the standout performance of the day.

This proved to be a second successive victory with a French-bred for owner Richard Frisby following Phoebus Lescribaa at Lisronagh a week earlier. “He loves galloping and is a great jumper. Shane wanted to make the most of that and jump out and he gave him a brilliant ride,’’ commented Goff before adding that the bay gelding is now sales bound.

Fabulous Saga is likely also set to be joined on the trip to the sales by his stable companion Clondaw Rigger (8-5/1) after his win in division two of the same contest. This son of Stowaway had fortune on his side as he had just been headed in the home straight by Minella Encore when the favourite took an unfortunate penultimate fence fall.

Left clear, the Michael Redmond-owned gelding was pushed out to score by 15 lengths from the previously placed De Rasher Counter.

“He was quite unlucky at Tinahely as two horses came down on the flat in front of him and I freshened him up coming here which seemed to do the trick,’’ said Goff.

Fitzgerald had earlier initiated his treble when combining with the Ken Budds-trained Dahills Hill (4-8/1) in division two of the Walsh Whiskey Distillery four-year-old mares’ maiden. The Michael Long-owned and bred daughter of Mahler was friendless in the betting for the 11-runner contest on what was her fifth career after having disappointed at Boulta a fortnight earlier when trailing in 28 lengths behind last week’s £95,000 Cheltenham seller Rosie McQueen.

However, she put her experience to good use by bravely sticking her head out to overcome the persistent challenge of the less experienced Autumn Rain to deny handler Aidan Fitzgerald success at his local venue. Winning connections indicated that their charge would likely head to the track in the new year.

The Doyle family, who through brothers Donnchadh and Sean have enjoyed a rapid rise to the top of pointing training, were joined on the winners’ list by their younger brother Cormac, who saddled his first winner with just the third runner that the 23-year-old has sent out from his Wexford base.

Lady Avery (6-10/1), one of the outsiders in the opening division of the four-year-old mares’ maiden, battled best to score in the hands of Rob James. Having finished fifth on debut at Dromahane, the Westerner mare made most of the running in the Monbeg Syndicate colours to overcome the late challenge of the Curraheen runner-up Cheltenham Matti by two lengths.

With an exciting bunch of 13 three-year-olds, in addition to the three four-year-olds which he has already run this autumn, we will likely be hearing plenty more of this latest Doyle brother handler.

The Peggy Hagan-owned Balnaslow (5-6/1) was greeted with one of warmest receptions of the day as he returned victorious following the Goffs Country open lightweight, the winning owner being surrounded by a large contingent of family and friends.

This nine-year-old, who had finished placed in some very hot races this term behind the likes of Call Me Bubbles, Roi Du Mee and Ourmanmassini, was faced with another stern opponent in the shape of the dual Grade 2 winner Foxrock. However, the Graham McKeever-trained Presenting gelding was aided by a foot-perfect round of jumping from the front in the hands of Liam Quinlan to defeat the favourite by five lengths.

The winning Co Antrim handler remarked: “Liam gave him a great ride under the guidance of his brother Roger who rode him at Glenbane and he is a horse that has improved with every run. We hope to win two opens to get to Cheltenham in March but he could go to Down Royal over Christmas next.’’

Favourite backers were tested throughout the afternoon, with many of the well-backed favourites getting turned over on the marathon nine race card. However one short-priced shot who did oblige for her supporters was Shanklys Dawn (6/4-1/1 favourite) who took the Shantou & Sea Moon at Burgage Stud five-year-old mares’ maiden.

rothwell

Narrowly touched off at Maralin on her second start of the season, the Philip Rothwell-trained daughter of Mountain High, had no such difficulties here as she ran out a ready winner in the hands of Jamie Codd. Her Moneygall-based owner, Jim Guilfoyle, was to discuss future plans for his grey mare with her absent handler, who was at Cork to saddle four runners.

Kildare handler Tom Shaw was left somewhat surprised by the success of his Presenting mare Chapter Two (5-6/1), after she ran out the clear victor of division one of the Walshs Homevalue Hardware older maiden. The six-year-old, who was carrying the colours of her handler, was far from disgraced when finishing third at Lisronagh seven days earlier.

The bay mare was certainly not inconvenienced by the quick turnaround as she defeated Ar Fheabhas Ar Fad by 16 lengths in the hands of Johnny King. “It took her a few days to get over her last run and I had thought this run might just be about getting experience. I will probably go for a beginners’ chase with her now.’’

With Chapter Two advertising the form of that Lisronagh maiden, it was unsurprising to see Barossa Pearl (3-7/4 favourite), who had finished 10 lengths in front of her at the Tipperary venue just seven days earlier, come in for market support which she justified when comfortably taking division two of the older maiden.

Always travelling strongly throughout, the daughter of Milan was given a confident ride by Barry O’Neill, and she easily asserted once being sent on early in the home straight to defeat Taylor’s Guest by eight lengths for owner/handler Pat Coffey.

Swift Crusader (7/4-2/1) continued the strong start to the season for Liam Kenny’s Wexford yard when obtaining a deserved success in the John ‘Shark’ Hanlon five-year-old geldings’ maiden. Second in each of his latest two starts, the Harley Dunne-partnered son of Kayf Tara faced a number of previously placed rivals.

The bay gelding responded well to every question asked of him as he defeated Mount Hanover by two and a half lengths to provide the three-man Orphan Girl Syndicate with their third success of the season. The bay gelding, a €20,000 purchase as a store from the Derby Sale, is to be offered at the sales in the new year.

Successful Coffey

TIPPERARY handler Pat Coffey enjoyed a successful afternoon at Borris having witnessed his three runners finish first, second and third. Coffey had owned Athlacca maiden winner Lough Derg Spirit who recently impressed on his hurdling debut for new connections. He is a successful handler in his own right with 20 horses in training. “John Kinsella is a big help to me in the yard. He rode a four-year-old winner for me a couple of seasons ago and is now in with me full-time. I am a dairy farmer and don’t have as much free time as I would like. It’s great to have him.’’