THE ding-dong battle for the flat jockeys’ championship took another twist as Pat Smullen responded to a treble by Colin Keane at Dundalk the previous Friday by recording a 193/1 four-timer on the polytrack.
Michael Halford provided Smullen with three of his winners and Riyazan was the highlight in the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Star Appeal Stakes. The Aga Khan’s Iffraaj colt had tackled group company on both outings since his debut Curragh win and appreciated the drop back to seven furlongs in this listed race.
The well-backed 11/4 chance responded gamely inside the final furlong to beat Battle Of Jericho by half a length, with the front-running Lake Volta just a short-head further back in third.
Halford said: “He was a lot more at home on that surface than he has been on the slow ground the last twice he ran and he has plenty of pace so I wasn’t worried about dropping him to seven. Pat gave him a beautiful ride and he dug deep for him when needed. That’s four runs now for the year so we will leave it at that with him.”
Smugglers Creek (8/11) set the ball rolling for the nine-time champion in the Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Claiming Maiden, bouncing out and making all from stall one. The Ballygallon Stud homebred kept on well under pressure inside the final furlong to beat Delegating by a neck and Halford said: “He was drawn well and Pat kept it simple. He’s a very straight forward horse and a good-looking one.”
The Medicean gelding was later claimed by Allan McLuckie for €20,000, to be trained by Iain Jardine.
Hunaina (9/1-13/2) was another for the Aga Khan/Halford/Smullen team in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap as the daughter of Tamayuz also made all and asserted inside the final furlong to beat Belle Boyd by a convincing one and three-quarter lengths.
The Doneaney trainer said: “The horses are in good form and we knew she’d love the surface having won on it last year and she likes making the running. She picked up well and I’d imagine she’ll come back here for the Cooley Stakes (October 27th).”
CONSISTENT
The Michael O’Callaghan-trained Militry Decoration was the other leg of the Smullen four-timer in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Nursery Handicap, with the well-backed 3/1 shot leading over a furlong out and holding on by a diminishing head from Smiling Eliza.
“He’s been running consistent in maidens, and I felt seven furlongs is probably his right trip. He took to the surface well, and when I was challenged he showed a good attitude and stuck out his head to the line,” said Smullen.
“That gives me hope,” he said reflecting on the four-timer. “Both myself and Colin would never be resting on our laurels, and we’ll be trying until the last day. It’s a good battle and hats off to Colin as well but tonight was important to get back into the hunt.
“There are one or two days I’m going to miss with horses travelling, like Sunday I’m in Belmont, so it’s important to have nights like tonight. I think it will go to the last day and we’ll be working exceptionally hard between now and then.”
KEANE AHEAD
As if to reinforce the relentless nature of the battle between the pair, Keane ended the night one ahead (81-80) as Thunder Crash just edged out the Smullen-ridden Bold Knight by a short-head in a thrilling finish to the concluding Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.
The 7/2 favourite is trained for Sean Jones by Ger Lyons, whose brother Shane said: “He’s after turning inside out, loves that trip and is a very good mover so we knew Dundalk wasn’t going to inconvenience him.
“Colin was very brave on him as he’s still a baby. He was cool and collected and just used hands and heels in such a tight finish. He’s in the Goffs Sales later in the year and if he is sold he’ll make a fine jumper because he loves that trip and is game with a touch of class.
“It’s like a game of tennis over and back between Colin and Pat. It’s great for everyone watching as it adds a bit of spice to an October evening.”
The Dundalk Stadium – Light Up Your Night Apprentice Handicap was divided and Robbie Downey took full advantage by partnering a 26/1 double aboard Sleepy Head and Beau Satchel.
Sleepy Head (5/1), owned and bred by Bill Foley and trained by Pat Flynn, kept on gamely in a blanket finish to division one, while Beau Satchel recorded his eighth win for the Total Recall Racing Club as the 7/2 favourite stayed on strongly inside the final furlong to beat Templemary Boy by one and three-quarter lengths.
Winning trainer Ado McGuinness said: “He was dropping in class, and we put the cheekpieces on tonight. He handled the surface well enough so we’ll probably campaign him away up here.”
Declarationofpeace justified prohibitive odds in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race, travelling strongly to lead a furlong out and pushed out to beat Boragh Steps by a length and a half for the Coolmore partners.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained 1/7 shot was ridden by his son Donnacha, who said: “I got there way too early and he stopped when he got to the front. He’s plenty of speed and it’s good to get him another win.”
Halpin ban
GARY Halpin picked up a one-day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency on Mostawfee in division one of the apprentice handicap.
Acting Stewards
J. Murphy, S. Barry, Mrs T. K. Cooper, P. Dunican, M. F. O’Donoghue.
Horse To Follow
TEMPLEMARY BOY (P.W. Flynn): Was the subject of a gamble when showing improved form to beat all bar Beau Satchel on his first all-weather start. Losses should be recovered soon.