THE sequence of either a Dermot Weld or Aidan O’Brien-trained winner of the Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks Stakes continued last Saturday when Tarnawa became a third Weld-trained winner of this race in the last six years.
Over the last eight years only the aforementioned pair of trainers have dominated this race and for her part Tarnawa got her season back on track after failing to make an impact in the Oaks.
The Aga Khan-owned filly was going nicely for Chris Hayes when she eased into a share of the lead two furlongs from home and stamped her authority on this race to defeat Simply Perfect by a smooth two and a half lengths.
“I was disappointed at Epsom. The ground may have been a little quick for her but she did not come down the hill. I thought Cork would be ideal for her as it’s a lovely, flat track. I’ll see how she comes out of this race before making a plan,” said Weld.
Intriguing
The card concluded with an interesting Marymount Hospice Irish EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile which brought together some intriguing juveniles.
The race served up a cracking finale which went to the way of the Ger Lyons newcomer Yaxeni (12/1) who looks quite the bargain after being picked up for just €8,000 at Goffs in February 2018.
The David Spratt, Lynne Lyons and Sean Jones-owned filly showed a fine attitude for Colin Keane to come out the right side of a three-way finish. Yaxeni was bred by the Niarchos family and she saw off the Niarchos-owned Unknown Pleasures by half a length.
FLIGHT Risk headed an excellent afternoon for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning who reeled off a treble that featured another victory for their evergreen eight-year-old in the first running of the Matchbook Straight Seven Platinum Stakes over seven furlongs.
Flight Risk has enjoyed his most successful season to date having already notched up listed and Group 3 wins at Leopardstown, and he was returning to a track where he recorded his initial success back in October 2014.
The Jackie Bolger-owned gelding towered above his rivals on recent form and ratings and the 13/8 favourite settled this race in a few strides when he quickened to the front with over a furlong to run. Flight Risk had an easy two and a half lengths to spare over Black Magic Woman at the line and there are surely more good prizes to be won with him between now and the end of the season.
The treble for Bolger and Manning began when Arranmore, whose career began with runner-up finishes behind Armory and Vitalogy, took the Matchbook Irish EBF Maiden over six furlongs. This smart son of Oasis Dream was a more than deserving winner and got home by a head from the strong-finishing Reducta.
The Ballylinch Stud and China Horse Club-owned Arranmore (15/8) will be good enough to hold his own in smart company this autumn.
On his first start in Ireland, Bopedro brought up the treble in the Barry’s Tea Supporting Marrymount Hospice Handicap. In recent months Bolger has taken charge of smart types from South America and Australia for owner Zhang Yuesheng and this colt was switching from France where had struggled to make an impact in two runs this year having looked a nice juvenile last term.
Bopedro belied odds of 25/1 and a mark of 84 to look like a quality handicapper as he handed out a two-and-a-half-length beating to the English import Current Option.
Kodiqueen again for Ballylinch
THE Ballylinch Stud colours were carried the victory for the second time during the afternoon when Kodiqueen bolted up in the Pier 26 Supporting Marrymount Hospice Handicap over five furlongs. This Joe Murphy-trained filly picked up a 13lb hike for scoring at Sligo the previous week but this was partly negated by apprentice Gavin Ryan’s 7lb claim, and evidently this three-year-old is a sprinter on the up as she won nicely.
Just over a month after recording the first victory of his training career, Ray Cody notched up his third success when Peshkova (12/1) made her light weight count in the Matchbook Irish EBF Fillies Handicap over seven furlongs. This filly was ridden by Andrew Slattery and, as was the case with Cody’s first two winners, is owned by Ballygallon Stud. She got the better of the Galway Festival winner Galtee Mist by half a length.
Tracey Collins is on course to post her best tally for a flat season for a number of years and she sent out Noirvento (8/1) to record her second success of the campaign in the Matchbook Betting Exchange App Handicap.
A big field of 24 went to post for this 45-65 rated six-furlong dash and the winner was always nicely placed for Ronan Whelan before getting on top to see off Bellick by half a length. Noirvento is owned by the 24-person Altar Ego Syndicate and has developed into a very reliable handicapper this season.
Heffernan’s whip rules breach
SEAMIE Heffernan is to appear before the IHRB referrals committee after he contravened the new whip rules for the fourth time this season when partnering Lord Rapscallion into fifth in the handicap won by Bopedro.
O’Connor’s horror fall
ALSO set to come before the referrals committee is the incident in the first race which saw Donagh O’Connor take a horrific fall from Unconscious Mind. He sustained a “non-threatening fracture in his neck,’’ according to trainer Johnny Levins.
O’Connor was unable to give evidence at the time due to injury so the matter was referred on.