FOR the second year in succession, the first stakes race of the year in Ireland went to Joseph O’Brien and American owner Scott Heider as the once-raced maiden My Generation dominated the Listed Hollywoodbets Patton Stakes.
A Speightstown half-sister to last year’s winner Crossfirehurricane, the 11/2 shot lined up off a promising debut third in a maiden here last month. Under a canny Shane Crosse, My Generation looked on from second before allowing a couple of free-going rivals to pass her after halfway.
It was all one way traffic in the closing stages of this mile event as My Generation led over a furlong out and surged clear to finish five lengths ahead of Rocky Sky.
“She’s obviously learned a lot from her first run. I loved the way she quickened up and galloped away from them,” said the trainer’s representative Brendan Powell. “I’m sure she’ll even step up in trip as she relaxes so well during a race.”
Jungle’s turn
The experienced four-year-old Jungle Cove (11/4) finally got his turn in the Hollywoodbets Racing & Sports Maiden where he got off the mark after 17 previous attempts.
The Jessica Harrington-owned and -trained son of Mastercraftsman held every chance a quarter of a mile from home and got on top to defeat Dedillon by two lengths.
“He deserved it.
“He’s a very good work horse at home but he’s just been frustrating,” remarked the winning rider.
Feane winner
Johnny Feane and Kevin Manning got off the mark for 2021 when Kendred Soul (7/2) bagged the six-furlong claimer. On her second start since joining Feane, the Handbrakes Down Syndicate-owned filly asserted in the closing stages to defeat Caesar’s Comet by three-quarters of a length. The fifth-placed Never Back Down was claimed by Lisa Sheridan for €6,000.
Thosedaysaregone on the comeback
THIS card contained something of a rarity at Dundalk in the form of an amateur riders’ handicap over two miles which went to the classy jumper and former Charles Byrnes inmate Thosedaysaregone.
Now under the care of William O’Doherty and ridden by Charles Byrnes’ son, Philip, the former Ladbroke Hurdle winner was having his first outing since September.
The 7/2 chance came with a strong charge from the turn-in to carry the day by a length. The winner is owned by Byrnes Bloodstock Limited.
Rutledge’s outsider
It was another memorable evening at Dundalk for Siobhan Rutledge who landed the 45-70 rated mile-and-a-half handicap on the 66/1 outsider Fallen Forest. Kalanoura made a bold bid from the front and turned back one rival after another in the straight but in the last stride she was nailed by the Bill Durkan-trained six-year-old who was winning the first race of his career. Fallen Forest carries the colours of Crohan O’Shea.
Chris Hayes made it 19 winners for the winter season as Jimmy Coogan’s Stop On Red (7/2) recorded his second course-and-distance triumph in the three-year-old seven-furlong handicap.
The son of Mehmas, who is owned by the trainer’s wife Annette, finished out strongly over the last furlong to defeat Chummie by one and three-quarter lengths.
“He’s a grand little horse. I think he’ll even be better going a mile. He might come back up here later this month for a handicap over a mile,” stated Coogan.
POLYTRACK specialist Major Power (4/1) won his fifth race at Dundalk and continued a sequence that has seen him finish no worse than second on his last seven starts with a good effort in the seven-furlong handicap.
The Eddie Lynam-owned and trained six-year-old produced a proficient front-running effort under Shane Crosse and had this race under control from some way out before eventually holding Prisoner’s Dilemma by half a length.
“It suits him up here and he’s been very consistent,” remarked Lynam. “Shane knew the best way to ride him. I’d like to try him on turf over seven.”
Logo starts well
The cheaply bought Logo Hunter (5/1) made a winning start for trainer Michael Browne in the three-year-old six-furlong maiden. This gelding was placed in two maidens last summer, notably when chasing home subsequent Group 2 heroine Aloha Star at Bellewstown, but was picked up for a mere 5,000gns at the Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale in October. Seamie Heffernan was on board the Patrick Moyles-owned gelding who led early in the last furlong and held off Devil’s Outlaw by half a length.
“I was concerned he mightn’t be fit enough. He’ll make a nice sprinter and he’s had a wind operation which has made an awful difference to him. He’ll improve from this,” observed Browne.