A MEMORABLE winter campaign for Damian English yielded yet another €24,000 feature race as 20/1 chance Geological and Ana O’Brien carried all before them in the well contested mile handicap.
English also supplied the favourite for this race in Red Avenger, but that one lost all chance when rearing up as the stalls opened which meant that the hopes of Grougha Stables rested with Geological.
Ana O’Brien set a steady pace on the five-year-old, who cost a mere 800gns, and when the sprint for home began in earnest Geological would not be denied. He kept answering O’Brien’s promptings to remain in charge and he fended off McGuigan by three-parts of a length with Reckless Lad a further head back.
“He goes well for the girls,” quipped English, whose charge won under Michelle Hamilton just prior to Christmas. “His last win came over six furlongs but he got the mile well. There are Fast Track Qualifiers over six furlongs and a mile here in March and he’ll be back for one of those, as will Red Avenger who just blew the start.”
JUSTIFIED WIN
John Oxx made his second runner of the year a winning one as Magen’s Moon justified her position as the 11/10 favourite in the seven-furlong fillies maiden. The Newtown Anner Stud-owned three-year-old was placed in three smart maidens last year and this looked an excellent opportunity for her to make a successful return from 166 days off.
The daughter of Henrythenavigator travelled nicely for Declan McDonogh and took control of this race shortly after turning in en route to an assured length success over the newcomer Zinat.
“She showed good, consistent form last year and she looked like she had a favourite’s chance,” stated Oxx. “There are options for her back here but Declan felt that she might just be better on the turf so we might wait until then with her.”
It was a night to remember for Ballingarry-based Richard O’Brien as Alans Pride (9/2) gave him his first winner since he embarked on a training career last month. A €2,000 purchase at Goffs in November, this gelding indicated that O’Brien wouldn’t have to wait long for his first success when he was placed here a couple of weeks previously.
He duly built on that by making all the running for Billy Lee in the first division of the seven-furlong handicap, coming home two and a quarter lengths clear of Guanabara Bay.
“He’s owned by friends of mine (Charles Maguire) who picked him up for small money in the autumn and all credit to them,” commented a delighted O’Brien, whose charge was due to turn out again last night.
STRANGLEHOLDS
Ger Lyons and Colin Keane maintained their respective strangleholds on the winter trainers’ and jockeys’ standings as Rock In Peace claimed a second win of 2017 in the three-year-old rated race over a mile.
The experienced Sean Jones-owned son of Kodiac was returned the 2/1 favourite to build on his win at the track’s opening meeting of the year. From over a furlong out he did battle with George Boole and he saw off that one inside the distance to succeed by half a length.
“The last time he was good over seven furlongs and the worry was whether he’d be as effective over the mile but he got it well,” reported the trainer’s brother, Shane. “We’ll keep him going through the winter season, if there are races for him, as he’s thriving.”
World Of Good, who holds an engagement at Goffs on Tuesday, secured a timely success in the apprentice rider’s maiden over a mile. The John Murphy-trained daughter of Danehill Dancer lined up with a rating of 68 but her efforts last term included an excellent third behind the subsequent Grade 1 runner-up Long Island Sound at Killarney.
On this occasion the granddaughter of the Irish 1000 Guineas winner Mehthaaf made the running for Donnacha O’Brien and she held on well to deny the oncoming Dandy Dude by a head. The 11/2 chance carries the colours of the Universal Bloodstock Syndicate and Aiden Murphy.
Sheila Lavery’s Danz Gift (6/1) bagged his first race since November 2015 as he made it three course and distance triumphs in the five-furlong handicap. The six-year-old was settled off the pace by Ronan Whelan but travelled especially well through the race and, having eased into contention, he picked up well in the last furlong. In the closing strides Danz Gift picked off the duelling pair of Go Kart and Strategic Force.
“Like a lot of sprinters things just need to fall his way,” stated Lavery, whose brother John owns the winner. “Five furlongs is his trip and he’s better on this surface than he is on grass so we will go for more of the same.”
Serefeli, who was without a win since making a winning debut in April 2015, claimed the 45-65 rated 10-furlong handicap to build on a couple of solid runs in defeat here in December.
The 9/4 favourite was once rated as high as 85 but he lined up under Pat Smullen off a mark of 59. The Peter Fahey-trained gelding made his way to the front with over a furlong to run and always looked to be doing enough to prevail but drifted left and hampered Ruby Gates somewhat late on. As expected though, a stewards enquiry made no change to the half-length winning margin.
The second divide of the seven-furlong handicap produced the finish of the night as Tennesse Waltz (6/1-9/2) came out the right side of a four-way battle. Trained by David Marnane for his wife, Melanie, the experienced 46-rated maiden battled his way to the front for Killian Leonard inside the distance and he held off the unlucky Three Majors by a nose. Less than half a length covered the first four home.
One-day ban
MICHELLE Hamilton received a one-day whip ban for her efforts on Angie’s Angel who was unplaced in the handicap won by Alans Pride.
ACTING STEWARDS
L. McFerran, P.N. Reynolds, D. McCorkell, S. Power, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
WAR GODDESS (J.P. O’Brien): This filly ran a good deal better than her eighth position in the handicap won by Serefeli would suggest. This was only her fourth career outing and her first in handicaps and there should certainly be more to come from her.