A VICTORY in a Dundalk claimer in March has been the springboard to an already industrious season for the fast improving Hailstone who took his form to a new level in the six-furlong conditions race.
Only six went to post but the field included a couple of stakes-placed runners and the premier handicap scorer Solar Halo. A rating of 89 left the Rick Barnes-owned winner with plenty to find but he stepped up to mark and the rain softened ground was no problem for him either.
Dylan Hogan, who won on Patrick Prendergast’s charge at Limerick in April, had the 5/1 shot showing in front from the moment the stalls opened and Hailstone then asserted in good style inside the last couple of furlongs. He opened up a useful lead which his rivals could never quite bridge and he was going on again at the finish where he had a length and a quarter to spare over the Patton Stakes runner-up Noivado.
“He just keeps improving and when they start improving like that you never know where it will end,” said Prendergast. “He’s been showing such pace in his runs I was keen to bring him back to six furlongs and after this I would imagine that we will be looking at stakes races with him.”
Jessica Harrington ended the evening with a double which was completed by the Irish Oaks hopeful Black Ruby (5/2) in the 10-furlong fillies’ maiden. The half-sister to Together Forever and Lord Shanakill was a fine second to Dabulena on her debut at the Curragh and was quite at home as she moved up in trip from a mile.
Colm O’Donoghue sent her past Lady Nathaniel to lead inside the last quarter of a mile and Black Ruby kept on well to hold the staying-on favourite Frima by three-quarters of a length. The Dansili filly carries the colours of her part-breeder Gillian Khosla.
“There’s about six weeks to the Irish Oaks so we’ve time to get another run into her before then and she’ll probably go for a listed race next,” declared Harrington.
HARRINGTON AGAIN
Earlier the trainer notched up another two-year-old success courtesy of Whitefountainfairy in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden. In the colours of Chinese owner Zhang Yuesheng, this Casamento filly ran well (seventh) in the red-hot Curragh maiden won by Beckford.
The strongly supported 5/2 joint-favourite quickened well for Shane Foley to go clear on the run to the last furlong and she crossed the line with two and three-quarter lengths to spare over fellow market leader Red Persian.
“She’d a good run at the Curragh when she was a little tight for room at one stage,” remarked the trainer. “She will come forward again I think. It’s hard to believe she only cost €3,000 as she’s grown into a fine, strong filly.”
It was a night to remember for jockey Luke McAteer who made his first ride on the track a winning one on Jim Bolger’s Pirolo (7/1) in the second division of the apprentice riders’ handicap. A graduate of the pony racing circuit where he rode 30 winners, the Donegal-born jockey has been with the successful trainer for the last year.
McAteer had the Jackie Bolger-owned gelding well placed throughout and then got him to the front with over a furlong to run. Pirolo put his stamina to good use in the closing stages as he stayed on determinedly to keep Easy Boy at bay.
After reaching the frame in five of her six previous runs, Idyllic Acrylic (7/1) got her turn in the six-furlong median auction maiden. The Mark Roper runner, who comes from the family of Jim Bolger’s Italian 1000 Guineas winner Treasure Hope, got to the front for Seamie Heffernan with over a furlong to run and she saw off the newcomer Dreaming Of Gold by two and a half lengths.
“She’s very genuine and she appreciated the cut in the ground. If there was some ease in the ground she might go to the Curragh for a five-furlong premier handicap next weekend,” said Roper of the Michael Keogh-owned filly.
The good form of Sheila Lavery’s team continued into the 45-65 rated seven-furlong handicap where Empress Lyla (5/1) obliged. On her first run since being touched off in a Gowran Park nursery last October Gary Carroll’s mount ran on strongly from the rear of midfield off the last bend to see off Bouquet Garni by half a length.
“She’s got plenty of heart and she’s shown there that she should stay a mile,” stated the trainer whose brother, John, owns the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor. “She doesn’t like kickback so the wide draw (stall 18) was probably a help to her.”
She was the only runner in the race with a previous victory to her name and Steelyeyed (9/2) duly added to her tally in the 10-furlong claimer. Gary Halpin made all the running on the Leopardstown handicap winner who came home three-quarters of a length ahead of the staying-on Cul An Ti.
“She won well at Leopardstown earlier in the season,” commented Pat Martin, who trains the three-year-old for the Moore Family Partnership. “She got the trip well and handles most types of ground. She might go to Leopardstown next Thursday.”
Keith Clarke sent out his first winner of the year as Mistiness (10/1-7/1) secured the first division of the apprentice riders’ handicap. Ross Coakley made much of the running on the six-year-old who kept on in very willing fashion inside the last quarter of a mile as the chasing pack looked to close in. At the line, Mistiness had three and a half lengths to spare as he added this race to the handicap he won at Leopardstown two years ago.
“Unfortunately the conditions of the race meant Robbie (Downey) couldn’t ride but Ross is a great asset,” reported Clarke. “The blinkers were a help to him and the trip and ground were both ideal. The syndicate (Phoenix Platinum) have three horses with me and there’s still shares available in it. My brother Ivan, who is an agent, does a great job sourcing these horses for us.”
ACTING STEWARDS
C.P. Magnier, J. Rearden, S. Barry, N. Colfer, P.D. Matthews
Horse To Follow
DREAMING OF GOLD (E. Lynam): This half-sister to the classy Fort Del Oro shaped up well on her debut when chasing home Idyllic Acrylic and should pick up a maiden.