THE decision to keep Who’s Steph in training for a four-year-old campaign yielded another dividend as she notched up the third Group 3 success of her career and her first of the season in the Munster Oaks.
A first pattern race winner of the season for Ger Lyons, who along with stable jockey Colin Keane was landing this race for the first time, the George Strawbridge-owned daughter of Zoffany looked to hold compelling claims beforehand.
A rating of 108 meant that she had upwards of 6lbs to spare over her six rivals and her overall form looked some way better than those of her six rivals.
This was duly borne out on the track as the evens favourite showed that the mile and a half trip was well within her compass.
Who’s Steph took control of this race with over a furlong to run before a one-length success over Peach Tree who was bouncing back from an unplaced run in the Oaks.
“I believe she needs soft ground to be at her best but that was lovely, safe ground today,” said Lyons. “I couldn’t run her last summer because of the ground. She is in the Pretty Polly and that is a huge step-up but she was bought for the big days. She will only run this season if the ground is good or less and the aim would be to get Group 1-placed and keep pot hunting as well.”
Lyons and Keane then struck with new recruit Mackqeez in the 10-furlong maiden. This Elzaam gelding came into this event as a three-race maiden but he held a rating of 97 with the form of his first three runs including a decent fifth in last year’s Beresford Stakes. He took charge over the last furlong and a half to win well from Halimi.
FOR the third time in five years the Listed Matchbook Straight Midsummer Sprint Stakes went for export as El Astronaute struck for John Quinn and Jason Hart, who was riding his first winner in Ireland.
This 104-rated six-year-old was notching up his second win at stakes level and the 11th success of his career having earlier in the season shown up well in the likes of the Palace House and Duke Of York Stakes.
The home team for this five-furlong dash contained a host of stakes race regulars and they all moved into contention after halfway but the 11/4 favourite was not for catching as he kept on well to defeat Smash Williams by three-quarters of a length.
Dynamic double for
O’Brien/Heffernan
IT was an industrious evening for Joseph O’Brien and Seamie Heffernan who enjoyed a double which concluded with the success of Perfect Tapatino (7/1) in the €50,000 Cork Derby.
A three-time winner last season, this Charles Fipke-owned and bred son of Perfect Soul went toe-to-toe with the front-running Insignia Of Rank early in the straight and after eventually getting the better of him, he held on by a neck from Massif Central.
As Cork got underway with the Matchbook Irish EBF Fillies Maiden, O’Brien and Heffernan struck with Royal Affair (5/1). The HLT Partnership-owed daughter of Kingman had shown plenty of ability on her first two outings and after racing on the pace she registered a cosy success, scoring by three-quarters of a length from the 33/1 chance Mienvee Flyer with the odds-on Aqueliga having to settle for third.
Aspen Belle hits six
ASPEN Belle has been a fine standard bearer for Pat Martin over the last few seasons and she took her career tally to six wins from 24 career starts in the Matchbook Exchange Irish EBF Fillies Handicap.
Killian Leonard was on board the Tom Brennan-owned six-year-old who led from early on and had this race in safe keeping from well over a furlong out. The 13/2 chance finished almost five lengths clear of Bailly. Afterwards Martin paid tribute to the efforts of his son Jack who has played a pivotal role in the filly’s career.
Ideal Pal landed an on-course gamble in the first division of the mile handicap where he was backed from 10/1 into 5/1 on course. The Mick Mulvany inmate was partnered by Nathan Crosse. This son of Tough As Nails is owned and bred by the trainer’s father, Larry.
Shane Kelly rode his first winner of the season in the second division of the mile handicap where Johnny Murtagh’s 20/1 Wilderness edged out Hidden Spark. The winner, whose jockey was given a one-day suspension, was returning to the form that saw him show up well in several maidens at the start of last season.