A WELL-DESERVED first blacktype success finally arrived for I’m So Fancy who ran out an ultimately dominant winner of the Listed McDonnell’s Bar June Fest Silver Stakes to fuel thoughts of a pattern race campaign over the course of the summer.

I’m so Fancy, whose sire Rajj has done well from an extremely limited number of representatives on the track, hadn’t won a race since landing a two-year-old maiden at Navan in October 2016. However, she had run some fine race in defeat at stakes level including when taking second in a Gowran Group 3 last September.

The seven-runner field was reasonably well grouped nearing the straight but from the turn-in nothing apart from I’m So Fancy (6/1) had a sniff of victory. The four-year-old, who is owned by Jim Nicholson and former trainer Homer Scott, quickened into the lead for Colm O’Donoghue with over two furlongs to run and kept on strongly to finish almost four lengths clear of the favourite Mustajeer.

“She deserved that. She’s been knocking on the door and always runs her race,” said Jessica Harrington. “She got the 10 furlongs well there and she’s very versatile in terms of the ground, she seems to handle anything. We’ve no firm plan as to where she goes.”

Initial indications were that Royal Ascot won’t figure on Decrypt’s agenda but a much higher level of competition shouldn’t hold any fears for the Paddy Twomey-owned and trained colt who got off the mark in the six-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

As he aimed to build on a fine debut second over this course and distance last month, the Billy Lee-ridden son of Dark Angel was returned the 6/4 favourite and he showed a commendable attitude to come out the right side of a protracted battle with the once-raced Invincible Karma. The front pair were separated by half a length.

“He was green the first day and he was even still a bit green there and he will improve again,” commented Twomey. “I’m thrilled he’s done that and he’s a horse with a great attitude. It’s not my intention to head to Ascot and possibly the Railway Stakes or the July Stakes at Newmarket will be next for him. He’s a horse to look forward to.”

IRISH DERBY

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby is next for the talented Latrobe who, as expected, enjoyed a leisurely success in the Brady Burns Insurance Brokers Supporting June Fest Maiden.

The Lloyd Williams-owned colt had finished second on his first three outings including a runner-up placing in last month’s Gallinule Stakes and that level of form put him miles clear of his five rivals.

The 1/7 favourite made most of the running for Donnacha O’Brien to finish with six and a half lengths to spare over Tornado Watch. This victory meant Joseph O’Brien sent out at least one winner every day there was racing last week.

“He was entitled to do that and apart from getting a little restless in the gates that was very straight forward. He’ll go on for the Irish Derby,” stated the trainer.

SPRINT TRACK

A curious feature of the season to date at the Curragh has been number of times that races over the sprint track have split into two groups, even in relatively small fields and that was again the case in the Keadeen Hotel Supporting Newbridge Parish Handicap. A mere nine runners turned out for this five-furlong heat but there were two groups with the main body of the field on the far side of the track while Alfredo Arcano and Rattling Jewel kept to the stand’s side.

As it happened the near side was the place to be and the Oisin Orr-ridden Alfredo Arcano got the better of his aforementioned rival by three-quarters of a length. The 12/1 chance is owned by Martin McHale.

“He’s always had the potential to be a nice horse and he’s come on for his first run at Navan last month. We’ll now look at the likes of the Rockingham and the Scurry Handicap,” reported David Marnane. “He’s still not doing everything right but he’s getting there. A bigger field where he would get more cover would suit him better.”

tight finish

Shore Step (9/1) bridged a near four-year spell without a victory as he came out the right side of a tight finish to the Treacy Group Supporting Newbridge Parish Handicap. A 27-runner six-furlong handicap at the Curragh can often throw up a blanket finish but on this occasion the Shane Foley-ridden winner and Flawlessly did battle in splendid isolation over the course of the final furlong.

Flawlessly seemed sure to have done enough and initial impressions were that she had shaded the bobbing finish but in fact it was Shore Step who get the verdict by a nose. This was a first win since September 2014 for Shore Step who lined up here off a mark of 61 having once been rated as high as 94.

“Things just haven’t fallen right for him but we have felt that he was capable of much better than he was showing. Now he’s won that he will hopefully work his way back up the ranks,” commented trainer Johnny Murtagh.

Ger O’Leary’s Jan Van Eyck (13/2) ensured that three lucky punters shared the near €1 million Tote Pick 6 pool as he recaptured his best form in the two-mile Cross’ Supervalu Supportiung Newbridge Parish Handicap. The eight-year-old was produced with a strong challenge by Danny Sheehy to lead entering the last furlong and he went on to defeat The Graduate by two and a quarter lengths.

Another to end a lengthy spell in the wilderness was Alcatraz (9/2) who struck under a masterful Chris Hayes in the P.G. Duffy & Sons Citroen Supporting Newbridge Parish Handicap.

The Richard O’Brien inmate recorded his only previous success just over three years ago but a waiting ride from Hayes worked the oracle. The jockey kept his mount covered up for as long as possible and when an opening appeared with a furlong to run, the 9/2 shot surged through for a commanding three-and-a-quarter-length victory over Kerosin.

Alcatraz is owned by Frank Lynch and Michael Hartnett.

Davis ban

SEAN Davis picked up a one-day careless riding ban in the handicap won by Alfredo Arcano.

ACTING STEWARDS

F. Clarke, T.L. Crawford, S. Barry, N.P. Lambert, P.D. Matthews

HORSE TO FOLLOW

LADY KAYA (Ms. S. Lavery): This Dandy Man filly made an excellent start to her career by finishing a one-length third to Decrypt in the two-year-old maiden. She looks sure to progress from this and it shouldn’t be long before she makes her mark in a maiden.