BELLEWSTOWN has played host to its share of classy two-year-olds and there might well have been a top-drawer one on show in Pretty Gorgeous whose debut triumph in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies Maiden was striking.

An expensive yearling and a half-sister to a French stakes winner, this Joseph O’Brien-trained daughter of Lawman oozed class under Shane Crosse and looks well worth her entries in races such as the Moyglare Stakes.

The John Oxley-owned filly was sent off a well-backed 2/1 chance and couldn’t have done any more. She glided through this race and, when she was left in front early in the straight, she cruised clear on the bridle to saunter to a five-length triumph over Siskin’s unraced half-sister Talacre.

“She did it nicely and you couldn’t have asked for any more from her first time out,” said O’Brien. “We’ve always liked her and she’d been working like a nice filly. We will move her into stakes company.”

Newcomer

O’Brien then followed up with the newcomer Snapraeterea in the Irish EBF-sponsored colts and geldings’ median sires maiden. From the first crop of Buratino, this John Farrell-owned and bred colt was returned a strongly supported 7/4 favourite and despite looking quite green he produced a nice effort for Declan McDonogh.

The winner had to overcome a major scare when getting the last road crossing all wrong, but to his considerable credit he belied his inexperience to gather himself and hold the rallying front-runner No Patience by half a length.

“The road crossings ride very well here now but some horses can get them wrong,” said McDonogh. “He did well to win and he’s a nice colt. It’s great for his owner Mr Farrell who is local to here.”

Well-backed

An interesting day concluded with a well-backed winner in Run For Mary (11/10) who struck for Charles Byrnes and his son Philip in the Indaver Ireland (Q.R.) Handicap over an extended two miles.

With A Start poached a decent lead over the field early in the straight but he was run down late on by the Top Of The Hill Syndicate-owned mare who was clearly all the better for a recent unplaced comeback at the Curragh. This mare’s half-brother, Run For Oscar, provided the winning jockey with his initial success in a Leopardstown bumper in March. A trip to Galway could now figure on the winner’s agenda.

Lord Rapscallion gives Kane a first victory

IT was a memorable afternoon for apprentice rider Nikita Kane who bagged the first success of her career aboard Lord Rapscallion (9/2) in the Tara Stud Handicap over just short of a mile.

Yet another winner for Johnny Murtagh, this reliable grey was travelling easily when he got to the front well over a furlong from home and he had something to spare in prevailing by a length and a quarter. The victorious Rapscallion Syndicate’s members include ITV Racing’s Ed Chamberlin.

This was a thoroughly deserved success for the winning rider who had come close to recording her initial success on several occasions lately. She picked up a two-day careless riding ban after her mount came across Mary Salome approaching the last furlong.

“I’m so happy, it hasn’t just sunk in yet. I was hoping today might be his day and he did it, thankfully,” stated the rider. “Johnny signed me on two years ago and I’m very grateful to him for everything and the opportunities he has given me. He’s a great boss and it’s just a great yard to work in.”

The card got off to a contrasting start for odds-on punters with a reversal in the opener followed by a victory for Aloha Star (10/11) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over five furlongs.

Two runs

In the race that went to Millisle a year ago, the Fozzy Stack-trained daughter of Starspangledbanner had the significant benefit of two previous runs to help. The newcomer Logo Hunter looked to be travelling stronger than the market leader approaching the last furlong but Aloha Star responded well to Andy Slattery’s promptings to get on top.

This victory for the David Keoghan and Partners-owned filly saw the winning rider’s claim reduced from 5lb to 3lb.

Earlier, King Of Stars was the 4/6 favourite for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over the same trip but he couldn’t match the front-running 72-rated four-year-old Inflection Point (11/4) who recorded a resounding four-length victory under Shane Foley.

In the familiar colours of Tan Kai Chah, which were carried with notable distinction by Dragon Pulse, the winner was continuing a fine run for Kieran Cotter who has already moved on to the second best seasonal tally of his training career.

THE 2019 Bellewstown July Festival was a tremendous one for Gavin Cromwell and the trainer was quickly into stride this time around as April’s Joy bagged the first division of the one-and-three-quarter mile handicap.

Just three days after success in a maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan, the winning pointer picked up well for Conor Maxwell when getting into the clear to nail the front-running Aunty Audrey in the closing strides. Cromwell trains the 9/4 favourite for the Mick & Molly Syndicate and she looks quite capable of adding to her tally on the flat. The Galway Festival could be next for the winner whose owners are based just half a mile from Bellewstown.

Another National Hunt-bred mare took the other division of the staying handicap as Allora Yeats (14/1) provided trainer-owner Katy Bown and jockey Mark Gallagher with their first success of 2020.

This six-year-old came here off placed runs in similar handicaps at Fairyhouse and Navan and, in a first time visor, she finished with a flourish to collar the game front-runner Dollar Value late on. Allora Yeats could reappear at the Curragh next Friday.