MICHAEL Halford, winner of the winter series for the last two campaigns, started as he means to go on in 2014/15, with a near 51/1 four-timer, which he shared with Shane Foley, at Dundalk on Friday evening.
Foley himself headed the standings back in 2012/13 and Dusty’s followers were in clover here as he began with a bang by landing the first three contests on the eight-race card.
The Aga Khan’s Zunera (8/11) delivered on the promise of her two previous starts in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden.
Back to five furlongs, the Invincible Spirit filly was looking good from the outset and in the end she was a comfortable length and three-quarters superior to Well Done Me.
“That’s my first five-furlong winner, and possibly my first runner over the trip, for his Highness. She could be smart next year over five or six and Shane said she travelled super and that he never had any bother,” said Halford.
Winner number two for Copper Beech Stables was another sprinter, Kernoff (15/8 favourite) taking the six-furlong Dundalk Stadium - Light Up Your Night Handicap.
Well-touted for the Joe McGrath Premier Handicap on his previous outing when a strong-finishing fourth, Kernoff was similarly expected to produce the goods on this occasion and he didn’t half win - by all of four and a half lengths from pace-setter Kiss The Stars.
Of John Clague’s victor Halford explained: “He’s just learning to sprint now. Before he was jumping out and they were gone and he was flying home in his races. Shane said he travelled comfortably today.
“I said to the owner earlier in the year we might consider Dubai and if he hits 100 (rating) we might bring him. He’d love the sun on his back and the fast ground. He’s an improver.”
It was up in trip then for Halford and Foley as the Crowne Plaza Hotel Race & Stay Handicap over a mile went the way of the Michael Enright-owned Glassatura.
After the 9/2 chance had got home by a length and a half from Crafted Mastery (didn’t get the gaps when she needed them and rider Colin Keane received a one-day careless riding ban), Halford wanted to deflect praise for the success.
“She was a good two-year-old but just lost her way a bit. It’s great to win a race with her and I have to thank Michael who has been very patient.
“We said we’d give her one crack here and we’ll leave her for the winter now,” commented Halford on another well-backed scorer.
Formerly with Lady Cecil, and Martyn Meade, Royal Ascot fourth Venezia (9/10) rounded off a night to remember for the Kildare trainer and Kilkenny jockey in the Dundalk Stadium On Facebook Maiden.
Despite edging to his right inside the last, the successful grey son of Galileo beat off Carrie Bow Cay and Kadayma (neither done any great favours in that manoeuvre) by a length and three-quarters and three-quarters of a length.
Halford predicted that the three-year-old, owned by the Hickman/Johns alliance, is a very nice prospect for next year, on the back of this confidence booster.
The Listed Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Cooley Fillies Stakes attracted two raiders from cross-channel and Donegal native Martin Harley guided one of these, Pelerin, to victory.
A daughter of Shamardal, owned by Newsells Park Stud, Pelerin headed the betting at 100/30 (from 9/2) and she comfortably justified that position by two and a quarter lengths and a head from Halford’s pair, Sea Coast and Slipper Orchid.
“She does have a good turn of foot and put it to bed and won very easily today,” was Harley’s debrief on the Marco Botti-trained filly.
The Crowne Plaza Leading Jockey & Trainer Championship Handicap was divided with the first division going to The Dancing Lord, on the mark for the second week running over the mile here.
Market-leader Elusive In Paris had looked likely to triumph in this 47-65 contest but he was reeled in close home by the Robbie Downey-partnered The Dancing Lord (4/1).
John Geoghegan has care of this fellow for Mountrath-native David Phelan who is based in London.
Division two saw owners Barry Doyle and Nigel O’Sullivan combine for a win, with trainer Tom McCourt, as Nedera (8/1) gained the day under Colin Keane.
Nedera had form tying in with The Dancing Lord and after her one and a quarter length defeat of Anner Queen, McCourt reported that the plan is to keep the Sakhee filly busy.
Meanwhile Sharjah, a decent servant to the Slattery family, registered Dundalk win number two and his fourth in all, with Declan McDonogh up in the www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap.
Andy Slattery trains the 4/1 favourite for his sister-in-law, Sharon, and the four-year-old was game from the front, holding the late rush of Havelock Ellis by half a length.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
MANOROV (T.G. McCourt): He put in his best effort to date when fifth behind Sharjah. One to keep in mind for a similar race soon.
ACTING STEWARDS
L. McFerran, P. Molony, H. Lappin, S. Power, P.D. Matthews