JOCKEYS Oisin Orr and Donnacha O’Brien secured doubles on the Dundalk card that included a dead-heat in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Orr was on board 33/1 outsider Aneczka for Claire Cannon and owner Andrew Spiller while O’Brien rode Vivax (6/4) for his brother Joseph O’Brien and The Eureka Partnership.
The pair fought out the spoils in the final furlong and flashed past the post in unison with the judge unable to split them.
Orr said: “I thought I could have been up but I wasn’t too sure. At least a dead-heat I’d be happy enough with that, it’s better than second so I’ll take that.
“She had two runs here when she was a two-year-old and hadn’t showed much. Today over the further trip I think helped her, she jumped and travelled a lot better today. When I did ask her, she picked up well.”
DOUBLE
Peddlers Pass rewarded sustained support throughout the day when making the breakthrough in the Linencare Handicap under Orr.
Francis Casey’s six-year-old mare rocketed away from her rivals in the final furlong to win by three lengths at 6/1 for the Family Plus Friend Partnership.
The jockey said: “She has plenty of speed although she hasn’t shown it until now and is improving with every run. I think it has just taken a while for the penny to drop with her.She had been working okay at home but it’s a different story when they come to the track. She was improving with every bit of work, so he (Casey) was hopeful of a nice run.”
The O’Brien brothers also teamed up with Downdraft who was the ready victor of the LMFM Race.
The four-year-old colt, rated 101, went off a very warm 1/3 favourite to account for his three rivals.
He travelled well and closed entering the straight before picking off Park Row. He was pushed along to assert at the business end and strolled in by four lengths in the colours of O T I Racing.
Afterwards, Donnacha O’Brien said: “He’s a grand, little horse and skips along that surface. It worked out nicely as the horse that made the running went nice and even for him. It was a lovely race to start off.
“That’s what you’d be hoping [to go for a premier handicap]. I think he had a little blowout on the back so probably fitness-wise there is a bit more improvement in him.”
Nathan Crosse booted home the first couple of winners on the card for Willie McCreery and Niall Madden.
McCreery’s Windham Belle stepped up on her unplaced debut at Naas to make virtually all in the Foran Equine EBF Auction Maiden over five furlongs.
Windham Belle and Nathan Crosse win the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden. Photo: Healy Racing
The trainer said of the 6/1 shot: “I was very disappointed in Naas - I fancied her in Naas because the conditions of the race suited her like today. She came up on the bad ground and there is a huge bias in Naas at the minute.
“I told him (Crosse) ‘you have to get her out sharp today’ because she has plenty of speed and I said to be careful going round the bend because she has never been round a bend. She was good and professional.
“I’m delighted as she was only a seven grand purchase for a new owner (Carmel Delaney) who would be a cousin of John O’Dwyer who bred the Champion Hurdle winner Rock On Ruby. He introduced me to her.”
Veteran Shake the Bucket (16/1) sealed his 10th win on the Polytrack in the AV Direct Apprentice Handicap over a mile and a half.
The 12-year-old, owned by Sarah Ann Madden, came with his effort in the straight and stayed on stoutly once he grabbed the lead in the final furlong.
Crosse said of the half-length winner: “He’s some servant! Tom (Madden) usually rides him and he rang me this evening and told me to let down on him.
“I was just delighted to sit on him and get the 10th win (here). He’s as gutsy for his age and all the miles he has done. He tries every step of the way.”
JUSTIFIED FAVOURITISM
Miss Snossyboots justified 15/8 favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap and brought up her Polytrack hat-trick in the process.
Ronan Whelan dictated on board Nicky Hartery’s five-year-old mare who brought her stamina to the fore in sealing victory by two and a half lengths.
Mick Halford said: “Her mother (Nick’s Nikita) started out as a handicapper and ended up in a Group 3 for us, so we’ll see where we end up.
“She’s very genuine and takes her racing great. She is improving with every run and is so straightforward. I wasn’t worried about dropping back in trip [to an extended mile and a quarter] the way she was working.”
The Perch served up a 16/1 surprise for owner/trainer Patrick McKenna in the Sean Judge Memorial Handicap over a mile.
Adam Farragher steered her into the lead in the final furlong and she forged clear by two and a half lengths.
The trainer’s son, Emmett McKenna, said: “We were running her here just after Christmas and she didn’t seem to be letting herself down on it, but she had been running over a mile and four and a mile and three and we just took a chance dropping back to a mile last week. She ran a cracker and we said we would bounce her out again.
“To do it like that, there there may be more to come hopefully. She’ll go the turf now - there’s a race in a couple of weeks over in Ayr. We’ll play it by ear and see what happens.”
HORSE TO FOLLOW:
A WAVE OF THE SEA (J.P. O’Brien): A promising debut in
third place, beaten half a length, and didn’t go unbacked. Can win on the turf over the summer.
ACTING STEWARDS:
R. Dore, T. Hunt, P. Stewart, M. Magnier, M.F. O’Donoghue