PETER Fahey’s most successful season to date took another turn for the better as Madera Express rewarded the bold decision to turn her twice in three days with victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race.
The Noel Doyle-owned and bred daughter of Milan, who was making it 18 winners for the season for Fahey, was reappearing just two days after finishing eighth to Tintangle in a high-class bumper at this track. There was nothing like that one’s calibre in the line up and Madera Express took advantage to win in the style of a mare who should do well when her sights are set on hurdling in the autumn.
Richie Deegan got his mount to the front with over a quarter of a mile to run and she maintained an unfaltering gallop to score by two lengths. The winner hails from a family which has previously produced such classy jumpers as Galevilla Express and El-Sid Senor.
“I’m delighted for the Doyles who are great supporters. They have the family and she’s the first foal out of the mare so it’s great she’s done that and she’s picked up the fillies bonus as well,” commented Fahey. “I only decided to declare when I saw it was a relatively small field and happily it’s worked out. She’ll go out to grass now and we’ll bring her back for hurdling in the autumn.”
SUCCESSFUL DEBUT
Noel Meade could have plenty to look forward to with Dream Conti whose successful debut in the bumper marked him out as a potentially smart novice hurdler for next term. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned son of Lauro – one of the top lots at the 2016 Derby Sale – was going smoothly for Nina Carberry when he moved to the head of the field early in the straight. It wasn’t long before Castle North started to chase him down but the 2/1 favourite kept on in taking style to finish with a length and a half to spare.
“He’s a very nice horse. We didn’t go much of gallop and he couldn’t use his big stride,” said Nina Carberry. “He’s still a bit on the weak side and there’s plenty of improvement in him. He’ll be a nice horse for next season.”
DOUBLE
Sean Flanagan enjoyed an industrious evening as he reeled off a double which began when he stepped in for an under the weather Davy Russell on Azua Emery in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle. The 2/1 favourite had finished second on three of her five previous starts for Gordon Elliott and this looked her easiest assignment to date.
The Gigginstown-owned daughter of Califet was travelling strongly when she moved to the front at the second last and she only needed to be pushed out to score by three and three-quarter lengths.
“She jumped great and travelled well and I’d say that she appreciated the little bit nicer ground,” remarked the jockey.
Flanagan then teamed up with Colin Bowe’s Victoria Bay in the two and a half-mile mares’ handicap hurdle where she was returned at 5/1 having been as big as 16/1 earlier in the day. The Doyen five-year-old, who won a point-to-point on her debut just over a year ago, moved into a lead of several lengths early in the straight. She pinged the last two flights to maintain a useful margin over Sunset Sadie and crossed the line with four and a half lengths to spare. Victoria Bay carries the colours of the Rich & Nora Furlong Partnership.
The favourite, Goaheadmakemyday, was found to be lame after finishing at the rear of the field.
“We went a good gallop and I was keen, knowing that she’d won a point, to let her roll away and she kept galloping. She’s got a good pedigree as she’s a half-sister to Our Victoria and you’ll see the best of her when she goes jumping fences,” stated Flanagan.
INDUSTRIOUS
Almost exactly two years after she won a flat maiden at Navan by 14 lengths, Misty Millie (16/1) showed that she could be set for an industrious few months over jumps with victory in the 80-95 rated two-mile handicap hurdle. The top-weight was going notably well for Danny Hand as the runners filed into the straight and she appeared to have the measure of Urbanist from before the final flight. The latter stuck to his task well but he was still came up three-parts of a length short as Misty Millie won with something to spare.
“The ground drying up a little helped her, it’s just hard for a flat-bred mare like her on very heavy ground,” commented Garvan Donnelly who trains the filly for Michael Frances O’Neill. “Hopefully she can progress on this and she’ll now mix it between hurdles and the flat.”
BACK ON TRACK
Some 367 days after he chased home Samcro in a bumper at this track the John Ryan-trained Cluan Dara (7/2) finally got his turn in the near three-mile maiden hurdle. This race served up a terrific conclusion as Cluan Dara looked to be holding Hugo ‘N Taz early on the run in before the latter rallied strongly to edge into a slight lead as the line loomed. A bobbing finish ensued but the verdict went to the Bitview Partnership-owned gelding who was giving Ryan and jockey Tommy Brett their second winner in five days.
“He’ll be a nice horse for the summer and I’d say that we will give Punchestown a miss,” declared Ryan. “He’s a brilliant jumper and is still only a shell of a horse. It’s frustrating he hasn’t won before now and he was entitled to win that.”
Liz Doyle’s Catwalk King, who defeat Cluan Dara in a Cork bumper in March 2017, was rewarded for some creditable efforts through the winter in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle. Adam Short produced the 6/5 favourite to lead between the last two flights and he was able to contain chief market rival Black Key by two and a quarter lengths.
“It was very easy and all he wanted was a bit of nicer ground. I didn’t want to get there too soon. The last day he possibly didn’t see it out as well as he could have and I was conscious to keep a hold of him today. He felt impressive and he should progress away on nicer ground,” observed Short.
ACTING STEWARDS
C.P. Magnier, M.C. Hickey, Mrs T.K. Cooper, J. Rearden, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
TRAPPIST MONK (N. Meade): This Beneficial five-year-old showed up well on his debut to take third in the bumper won by his stablemate Dream Conti. On this evidence a bumper success will be well within his grasp if he turns out again in the coming weeks.