KEVIN Manning finished 2017 with a flourish as he partnered a near 220/1 treble at the final fixture of the year on the polytrack.
Theobald, who tackled Group 1 company on his previous two starts in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy, appreciated a drop in class in the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Race.
The 101-rated son of Teofilo was prominent throughout and, despite edging a bit left under pressure inside the final furlong, the 11/10 favourite kept on well to beat Noivo by three quarters of a length.
Ger Flynn, travelling head lad to trainer Jim Bolger, said: “Kevin was very happy with him, and said he’ll be a nice horse going further next year. It was nice to get him back into the winners’ enclosure and he loved the surface.” When asked if he could be a UAE Derby type, he added “He’d be an ideal horse for the surface, the track and the trip but that will be up to the boss. I might put that into his head as I’d like to go to Dubai!”
The Bolger/Manning axis caused a surprise later on as Mainicin landed the Winter Series At Dundalk 2018 Handicap at the generous odds of 20/1. Carried set a blistering pace in this extended 10-furlong event but the clear leader was reeled in early in the straight, and Mainicin got up close home towards the far rail to beat Johann Bach by half a length.
Flynn said: “That’s her sixth win and her third up here. She’s tough and consistent, and hopefully she can come back up here in the new year and continue on. She’s made the running to win a few times but can be ridden any way and is very versatile.”
Canford Art initiated the Manning treble when landing a nice touch in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. As big as 25/1 earlier in the day, the Kildare Racing Club’s filly went off at just 4/1 and led inside the final furlong to beat It’s All A Joke by a length and a quarter.
Winning trainer Peter Fahey said: “We fancied her to run a big race. We had her at the breeze-up in Newmarket but didn’t sell her. She is a nice filly who goes well at home and is very quick. More than likely she is for sale. She missed the break and gave them a couple of lengths but she put the head down and stayed going well.”
Richard O’Brien has made a good impression with a small team over the past year, and the Ballingarry, Co Limerick, trainer recorded his biggest win to-date when Beach Bar (20/1) took the featured Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Awards 2017 Handicap.
The Azamour gelding made headway in the straight to challenge over a furlong out, and kept on really well under a strong Wayne Lordan drive to beat Geological by half a length.
“I said to Wayne beforehand that, if things fall right for him, he should be competitive off his mark. They went a serious gallop which suited and Wayne said he was in his hands all the way,” said O’Brien before adding: “David Haddrell identified him for us at the Newmarket July Sale and he heads up the Koya Equine Partnership. My father and I have a half-share, and that’s our biggest pot. We could look at running in a Fast Track Qualifier here, and the Irish Lincoln is another option.”
NICE JUVENILE
Fozzy Stack introduced a nice juvenile in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden as Zihba, owned by the Pension Fund II Syndicate, justified good support. Billy Lee gave the 15/8 chance a confident ride, heading odds-on favourite Port Lions in the closing stages as the pair drew six lengths clear.
Lee said: “He did it well. First time out you would always be a bit worried that they would be a bit green but he was very professional. He jumped and travelled away beautiful through the race, and went to the line well.
“He’s going to improve plenty and is a nice horse for the future. I only hit him one crack coming up to the stand to make sure he was in full concentration and he won with a bit in hand.”
David Marnane believes Settle For Bay could in time develop into a horse for Dubai after the 100/30 chance completed a hat-trick in the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Apprentice Rated Race. Donagh O’Connor’s mount hung his head a bit right but that didn’t stop him getting well on top in the closing stages to beat Ishebayorgrey by three and a quarter lengths.
Marnane, who trains the three-year-old for Denis McGettigan and Mossy Casey, said: “He’s still green but I think he will be a very nice horse, and he might come back here for a 25 grand handicap. He’s had a nice break since his last run and might have been a bit fresh tonight. We’ll give him another run here and then see what we’ll do with him. I think he’s tailor-made for Dubai. He handles this place well but I think he’s probably equally as good on grass but never had much of a go on it.”
Michael Halford, who took the Crowne Plaza-sponsored leading trainer award for the seventh successive year (shared with Eddie Lynam in 2011), was on the mark as Kirk’s Dancer led over a furlong out and stayed on strongly under Pat Smullen to take the mile and a haf maiden.
Halford said of the 3/1 favourite: “She had a very promising first run here behind Winter and then met with a serious accident at home that knocked the stuffing out of her and it took us a long time to get her back. She loves that surface and has got stronger in herself lately.
“Pat said she put it to bed easy, and we’ll keep going with her. (Owner) Eric Koh is Singapore-based and I’d like to thank him for his patience with her. Hopefully she will pay the rewards now.”
Colin Keane capped a great year by taking the leading jockey award at Dundalk (finishing two ahead of Smullen) after partnering Adieux, trained by Pat Martin for Hannah O’Donoghue, to take the Dundalk Stadium Racing Returns Friday 5th January 2018 Handicap.
After giving the well-backed 9/2 shot a patient ride to beat Glib Speech by a length, Keane commented: “Pat said the main thing was to get her settled as she’s been running a bit keen.
“If she keeps doing things right there is no reason why she can’t keep improving and going up the handicap.”
ACTING STEWARDS
L. McFerran, P. Caffrey, Ms M. Cosgrave, J.G.J. McCoy, L. Walsh.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
NOIVO (J.J. Murphy) Progressed well from his debut and appreciated the step up to a mile when beating all bar the hot favourite. Should have little difficulty going one better on the polytrack.