HER connections have had to be patient but Jim Bolger’s Goldrush has certainly rewarded that virtue and the millionaire yearling picked up a precious blacktype triumph as she swooped late to stay unbeaten in the Listed Al Basti Equiworld Carlingford Stakes.
The regally bred daughter of Frankel and brilliant international racemare Alexander Goldrun was the second highest price lot at the 2015 Goffs Orby Sale when fetching €1.7m. Goldrush, who is owned by the China Horse Club, didn’t make her debut until last month when she won a Navan maiden and she coped splendidly with this marked rise in class.
Despite her inexperience and this much tougher assignment Goldrush was returned the 3/1 favourite and she had it all to do from midfield with two furlongs to run. However, she produced a potent turn of foot for Kevin Manning when it was required and she burst through to lead in the last furlong for a three-quarter length victory over Marshall Jennings. The 33/1 shot Johann Bach, who looked as though he might cling on for victory at one point, ran a fine race in third.
“I thought that she’d stepped forward from Navan and she showed there that she had,” said Manning who has combined with the trainer to win this race four times in the last six years. “She’ll come on again from this and we’re very pleased.”
After filling the runner-up spot on three of her first five runs, which included a second to Happily in the Silver Flash Stakes, Shalailah (4/5) was a deserving winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Median Auction Maiden.
The Joseph O’Brien-trained daughter of Showcasing was sent straight to the front and then asserted with over a furlong to run.
In the closing stages Donnacha O’Brien’s mount was closed down by the promising newcomer Harvestfortheworld but she held on to by half a length. The winner carries the colours of American owner Fager Stables.
“She was rated to do that and she stuck her head out. I’m not sure that she is in love with that surface and she’ll be better when she gets back on turf,” reported the winning jockey.
TITLE RACE
The all-weather fixtures at Dundalk have been central to Pat Smullen’s title push in recent weeks and the reigning champion was once again successful on the polytrack as Andesh claimed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden. The 5/4 favourite began his career with runner-up finishes at the Curragh and Killarney and he made no mistake as he dropped back to seven furlongs.
Michael Halford’s charge, who was wearing a tongue tie for the first time, took control with well over a furlong to run and he readily contained Man Power to score by one and three-quarter lengths.
“I was caught a bit wider than ideal but his first two runs were very good and he handled this surface very well. I’d like the way he galloped to the line, the further he went the stronger he got,” reported Smullen, whose mount is owned by the Aga Khan.
Colin Keane hit back in the finale as Ben Rumson (5/4) secured the second division of the 45-65 rated 10-furlong handicap. Now a four-time winner this season, Tom McCourt’s charge did battle with the Smullen-ridden Jock Talk in the last furlong and he was the stronger over the last 100 yards as he carried the day by half a length.
“He’s turned out to be a great, fun horse and hopefully there is another one in him. Colin suits him very well,” stated McCourt.
“It’s great for Sean Foran who owns him. He’s been a great supporter of mine for the last 25 years.”
CONTESTED
A tightly contested mile handicap went to Denis Hogan’s Atlas who was backed from 16/1 into 10/1 on course and looked like one that could progress further over the coming weeks. The Leigh Roche-ridden four-year-old was going well in behind a wall of horses at one point in the straight and when an opening did appear Atlas picked up nicely.
Roche never had to resort to the whip as the Sunday Racing Club-owned gelding crossed the line with half a length to spare over Jon Ess.
“He quickened up well and when he got the split he put his head down and galloped to the line. He likes to be delivered late and he travels so well – he enjoys it when you take a pull out of him,” reflected Roche.
Jessamine completed a double for Leigh Roche in the first division of the 45-65 rated handicap over an extended 10 furlongs. Some 13 months after her last success, the 8/1 chance struck for home early in the straight and maintained a clear advantage to defeat Crown Pleasure by a length and a half.
Pat Flynn trains the daughter of Mastercraftsman for Bridey Cooney.
After showing signs of a return to form behind Thunder Crash the previous week, the Shay Barry-trained Abraham (7/1) came good in the mile and a half handicap. Missy Snossyboots made a valiant bid from the front but she succumbed to Abraham’s steady charge inside the distance and Billy Lee’s mount got home by a length and a half.
“Ideally he’d like to go further but he’s done that well and if he remains in good form he might come back here again,” reported Barry of the Colm Herron-owned gelding.
“He was bought to go hurdling and won a maiden during the summer but he wants really good ground so we might leave that until next summer.”
A 40/1 shocker was lying in wait in the apprentice riders’ handicap where Johnny Feane’s Vincita, on her second outing since arriving from France, provided Killian Hennessy with his first winner since May. On just the fifth start of her career the Antoinette Kavanagh-owned daughter of Lawman headed Midnitemudcrabs early in the last furlong and she fended off the oncoming Mo Henry by a neck.
ACTING STEWARDS
N.B. Wachman, P. Caffrey, S. Collins, N. McGrath, L. Walsh
Horse To Follow
HARVESTFORTHEWORLD (J.A. Stack): This daughter of So You Think made a bright start to her career by finishing a fine second to Shalailah. She should take some beating if turning out again in the next few weeks.