REST OF THE CARD

UNDOUBTEDLY one of the biggest receptions accorded to any winner at this year’s meeting was that enjoyed by the Robbie McNamara-owned and trained Cascavelle in the Caulfield Industrial Irish EBF Maiden.

At a track where he twice won the amateur riders’ handicap on the Monday evening, McNamara raised the roof in registering a coveted first training success at this fixture.

For his part, Cascavelle showed ability in four outings last year, which prompted McNamara to buy him for €30,000 at the Goffs Horses In Training Sale last November.

The grey son of Shamardal was then kept under wraps until he lined up in this seven-furlong maiden where he more than vindicated the quiet confidence that had been building up behind his chances. Billy Lee sent the 9/1 shot into the lead nearing the turn in and a willing Cascavelle held on well in the closing stages to see off High Altitude by half a length.

“To be honest if we didn’t have Galway this week he wouldn’t have been running for another three or four weeks – he’s only about 85% fit,” said McNamara. “This horse has a lot of class and he’ll get further than this seven furlongs.

“The horses have been running well without winning but hopefully this is the start of things and I’ll enjoy the feeling of training a winner here a lot longer than I did when I was riding.”

A tilt at some of the luminaries of her generation is up next for Joe Murphy’s Shekiba following her victory in the Colm Quinn BMW Irish EBF Fillies Maiden. A race long established as one of the best of the week once again contained strength in depth and there were some quality two-year-olds on show.

Among these was the winner, who caught the eye over six furlongs on her debut at the Curragh last month, and the daughter of Arcano relished the extra furlong of this race.

Shekiba (9/1) was always nicely placed for Gary Carroll and picked up well on the approach to the straight to make her bid. At this stage she was among three that held every chance and she asserted early in the last furlong before then holding on well to defeat Moghamarah by half a length. The favourite, Sizzling, finished off strongly to secure third and remains a filly of potential.

“She’s entered in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes later this month and that is where she will go next,” commented Murphy, who trains the winner for Edward Walsh and Tadhg O’Sullivan.

“She’s tough and genuine and it’s great to have her. She’s definitely a group filly.”

ZEST

An overdue first triumph over fences came the way of Three Wise Men in the Latin Quarter Beginners Chase where Henry de Bromhead’s charge showed a notable zest for the task at hand. The seven-year-old fell last time out but his placed runs behind the likes of Min and Disko last season were compelling pieces of form.

Noel Fehily sent the Annette Mee-owned gelding to the front at an early stage and the 7/2 chance proceeded to turn in an exemplary round of jumping. He was kept company for much of the race by Bamako Moriviere and despite getting the second last all wrong the latter remained in touch early on the climb to the line. Three Wise Men was just too strong though and maintained an unfaltering tempo to score by three lengths.

“It’s great to finally get one with him. Full credit to Michael Mee as he said after this horse fell at Punchestown in May that we would wait for this,” remarked the trainer. “The horse loved it in front and got a lovely ride form Noel and there are plenty of options for him. He is entered in a handicap here on Sunday but we’ll just see how he is after this. The Mee family are such great supporters of this meeting.”

For the second evening in succession the opener went to Joseph O’Brien and Barry Geraghty as last year’s St Leger third Housesofparliament got off the mark over jumps in the Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle.

Also a Group 3 winner last year, the J.P. McManus-owned runner was returning to the track for the first time since finishing down the field behind Mega Fortune in a high-class affair at Leopardstown in February.

This Galileo gelding could well come into this own over further than this extended two miles and Geraghty kept him on the pace before letting him stride on before the second last. The 11/4 shot was in charge once he cleared the final flight but didn’t look to be doing much in front and he came home one and three-quarter lengths ahead of Morgan who was trying to concede 13lb.

STAY FURTHER

“He won nicely and got his act together after the first couple of hurdles,” said O’Brien. “He should stay further but doesn’t necessarily need to go up in trip. We’ll look for a winners’ race now.”

Billy Lee also struck aboard Serefeli in the Caulfield Industrial Handicap over an extended mile. An encouraging second to Eagle Spirit at Naas last time signalled that the Unidentified Partnership-owned gelding could be on the cusp of recapturing his best and he duly did so to continue a terrific summer for trainer Peter Fahey. The 4/1 favourite charged home from the turn-in to account for Usa by half a length.

“We’re after having a good summer but I’d say a Galway winner is worth the whole lot of them,” declared Fahey. “He probably wants a little further and only came to himself coming down the hill. Hopefully he can go on and he’ll end up mixing it over hurdles.”

The versatile Knockmaole Boy (6/1) got Gordon Elliott off the mark for the week in the Caulfieldindustrial.com Handicap. Fresh from two wins over hurdles the five-year-old took the drop back to seven furlongs in his stride and travelled powerfully in behind the leaders from the plum stall one draw. Leigh Roche got his mount past Allegio early in the last furlong and Knockmaole Boy went on to defeat that rival by half a length.

“He’s a grand horse who didn’t cost that much and his owners have gotten a lot of fun out of him,” reported Elliott, who trains the winner for the Twenty Times Two Syndicate. “Although he’s won over hurdles he only just about gets two miles and he’ll come back here on the flat at the weekend.”

ACTING STEWARDS

P.J.A. O’Connor, M.J. Doyle, C. O’Mahony, A. Ryan, P.D. Matthews

Horse To Follow

TURBINE (D.G. Hogan): This gelding showed up well to take fourth behind Riven Light. He has posted several encouraging efforts this season and there is definitely a good handicap to be won with him.

HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY

IT wasn’t the day’s most prestigious contest but Cascavelle’s victory for Robbie McNamara in the seven-furlong maiden was one to warm the heart, which was certainly reflected in the reception accorded to the winner on his return to the enclosure.