SOFFIA’S steady yet relentless rise up the ranks over the last 12 months saw the reliable and talented four-year-old land the Group 3 TRM Excellence In Equine Nutrition Ballyogan Stakes.
Fresh from a listed success at Naas, the Lady O’Reilly-owned four-year-old produced a career best in taking fashion. She led over two furlongs from home under Declan McDonogh and was chased and harried throughout the last furlong by the English raiders Dan’s Dream and Queen Jo Jo.
She didn’t yield and at the line the four-year-old had a neck to spare over Dan’s Dream. This success means that Eddie Lynam has now won every major sprint in Ireland for horses aged three or older.
“This was the race I wanted to go for and Declan is adamant that she is getting quicker and that five is her best trip – we were probably both right,” commented Lynam, whose charge won her first race at this meeting last year. “We’ve a good programme of races at home now so we can look at the Sapphire Stakes next month and she will get an entry in the Flying Five.”
Bolger’s silver sextet
Jim Bolger made it six wins in the Listed TRI Equestrian Silver Stakes as a brave Guaranteed recaptured the form that saw him win at Group 3 level as a juvenile. The son of Teofilo had struggled to reach the heights of his juvenile form so far this season but he was back on song under Ronan Whelan who stepped in for the suspended Kevin Manning.
The 7/1 shot, who is owned by Jackie Bolger and Rectory Road Holdings Limited, kept finding for pressure to fend off The King and Old Glory, before just lasting home from Riven Light. The latter finished with a tremendous surge when getting into the clear and, although an unlucky loser, he showed that he too could be in store for a good summer. Guaranteed earned a free entry into the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby with this win and that classic could be next for him.
Nitro Boost (9/1) made it six winners in 10 days for Willie McCreery in the €50,000 TRM-sponsored five-furlong three-year-old handicap. A third in a Cork listed race last month saw the Imperial Crown Syndicate-owned filly take a 10lb hike in the ratings but this was largely negated by Nathan Crosse’s 7lb claim.
The daughter of Dandy Man battled on well over the course of the last furlong to score by half a length from Cityman and she will head for the Listed Land O’Burns Fillies Stakes at Ayr next Saturday.
Micro Manage annihilates rivals six rivals
THE old adage of a group horse running in a handicap has seldom rung truer than after the mile and a half TRM’s Calphormin Handicap where the Willie Mullins-trained Micro Manage annihilated his six rivals.
On his first outing since winning a Tipperary maiden last October, this Merriebelle Irish Farm Limited-owned son of Rip Van Winkle ran riot off a mark of 91. Donnacha O’Brien was on board the evens favourite who handed out a 12-length beating to the in-form Cuban Hope.
“The ground was a worry as he’s a big, heavy horse who hits the ground hard and he wouldn’t have run only for the rain that fell the other day. He does everything right at home and hopefully its onwards and upwards,” reported David Casey. “He’s a brilliant jumper, I actually schooled him myself last year, but I’d imagine jumping will be shelved for the time being.”
Ascot contenders?
THE evening began with a pair of interesting two-year-old races which look to have served up two lively Royal Ascot contenders.
Sheila Lavery is eyeing up an Albany Stakes bid with Lil Grey (9/2) who accounted for seven colts with more than a degree of authority in the six-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race. After finishing second to Mohican Heights in the first seven-furlong maiden of the season at Leopardstown last month, the daughter of Starspangledbanner did everything at her leisure over this shorter trip.
The Spyglass Syndicate-owned filly finished in good style for Robbie Colgan over the last furlong and a half to defeat newcomer Year Of The Tiger by two and three-quarter lengths.
Aidan O’Brien has the Chesham Stakes in mind for the impressive Lope Y Fernandez who looked potentially top-drawer in justifying 15/8 favouritism on his debut in the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden. This Lope De Vega half-brother to last season’s high-class juvenile Dark Vision quickened up especially well in the closing stages for a near four-length triumph over his stablemates Kipling and Mythologic.
Little Clarinet (11/4) went on to bring up a treble for Donnacha O’Brien in the TRM-sponsored six-furlong handicap. After a luckless fourth here on Guineas weekend where a loose horse cost her a chance of victory, the Annus Mirabilis-owned mare got compensation as she lasted home by three-quarters of a length from the strong-finishing Mia Comet. Joseph O’Brien indicated that his charge will stick to handicaps at this trip.
RONAN Whelan picked up a two-day whip ban for his efforts on Dan’s Dream in the Ballyogan Stakes and an enquiry into a possible whip breach by the rider in the Silver Stakes saw him referred to the Referrals Committee.