RETIRING Airlie Beach’s success in the featured Listed Ardilaun Hotel Oyster Stakes at Galway was the highlight on Tuesday’s Galway fixture but the day belonged to the Fitzpatrick family from Kilkenny who had a poignant win with their Coeur D’Amour in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Parents Joe and Sharon Fitzpatrick are still coming to terms with the tragic passing of son Jonathan Fitzpatrick on August 12th and today their Coeur D’Amour (7/2) scored her maiden win, under Colin Keane.
Winning trainer Madeleine Tylicki later spoke highly of Jonathan and said: “Today is really about Jonathan who is actually the breeder and owner along with his parents Joe and Sharon.
“He never got to see her run so it’s quite emotional for everyone but this means a huge amount for the family and Jonathan would have got a great kick out of this today. I’m sure where ever he is looking down on us, he is just as proud of the filly.”
Regarding plans for the daughter of Zoffany, Tylicki added: “Billy (Lee) gave her a perfect education at the Curragh first time out and she has come on a lot. She does everything very well at home and she is taking everything into her stride.
“She’s a big frame of a horse still, she’s 16.2hh but has a lovely big stride and handled the ground and track really well. The main thing is that she is a lovely horse for next year.”
AIRLIE RETIRES
The featured Listed Ardilaun Hotel Oyster Stakes was won by the in-foal and retiring Airlie Beach (2/1 favourite), who was adding this first flat blacktype success to a previous Grade 1 hurdle success. The Willie Mullins-trained, Supreme Horse Racing Club-owned seven-year-old mare, in foal to Mount Nelson, was today scoring a ninth career success when beating Remarkable Lady by a length and a half.
Mullins wasn’t present but Smullen, who was riding the mare for the first time, said: “It’s nothing short of a pleasure to ride such a good mare and for her to go out like that is a fairytale for all the connections. She is a typical one of Willie Mullins’, wants to go further than that trip and needed all of the hill.
“Every step she took up the hill she was devouring it and her stamina won out. She is a real quality mare and it’s great she has gone out on a high.”
That listed race success had brought Smullen level with Colin Keane (71-71) at the head of the jockeys’ championship. Nine-time champion Smullen started the day one behind, but initiated his double in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden on the Dermot Weld-trained, Aga Khan-owned Hazapour (5/2).
Hazapour, who is out of a half-sister to Derby winner Harzand, reversed form with Ballydoyle’s Hunting Horn, as the pair had met previously at the Curragh last month. Smullen commented: “Our horse stayed very well at the Curragh when they went very steady and it turned into a three-furlong race. It didn’t suit our horse at all and today was more of a test and stamina was a big help to him today,” reported Smullen. “He’ll obviously improve from the run and is a nice staying horse.”
Johnny Murtagh was on the mark in the Donnellys Of Barna Rated Race with Sister Blandina, who was following up a double for the trainer at Carlisle on Monday.
Murtagh wasn’t present for Sister Blandina’s (5/4 favourite, in the colours of Bridge Bloodstock) easy four and a half-length win but afterwards winning jockey Denis Lenihan said: “She was stepping back a little bit in trip but showed a lot of pace and seemed to improve again.
“She travelled great all the way around and dropping back a furlong or two was no trouble to her,” Linehan continued. “She loves that soft, slow ground and won very impressively. The yard is in good form, Johnny (Murtagh) is at the sales, and thanks to him for leaving me up on her today.”
Jockey Lenihan later received a two-day suspension for causing interference to runner-up Ontheiflist in the home straight.
Another former champion jockey, Declan McDonogh, was on the mark in the concluding Sean Cleary Memorial (Fillies) Maiden with the Ellmarie Holden-trained Dawn Choir (7/2, in the colours of the trainer’s mother Catherine Holden).
The pair were combining successfully for the first time and Holden said: “Maybe the last day in Killarney we thought she was a small bit disappointing but she still ran well.
“All her runs she has been there or thereabouts and got the head in front today and is after improving an awful lot.
“We’ll make a plan again in the next few days and hopefully she’ll get a run in again in the next few weeks. That’s her ground and she’s a very well bred filly.”
The John McConnell-trained Get Out Of Jail (6/1) overcame a wide draw in 16 to win the 17-runner Galway Apprentice Handicap under jockey Conor McGovern.
The six-year-old son of Authorized, running for owners Rockview Racing Club, was produced with a well-timed challenge by McGovern to lead inside the final furlong and gain his third success, each achieved on soft or heavy ground.
The 20/1 shot and George Webb-trained Cosmic Symbol caused an upset in the James P. Cunningham Electrical Handicap.
The son of Amadeus Wolf, who races for the Lios Dearg Rangers Partnership, had previously trailed the field in last at Listowel on the previous Wednesday but bounced back to his best for a fourth career win today.
The six-year-old gelding was crediting Dylan Hogan with his 11th success this season and the capable apprentice very much enjoyed the run of the race along the rail when scoring a half-length win over Happy Company.
Acting Stewards
D. Pugh, O. Kearney, T. McDonogh, N. Rooney, H. Hynes
Horse To Follow
WHIRLING DERVISH (Mrs J. Harrington): He ran well when finishing third behind two smart performers on his debut today and can build on the effort and win a maiden before long.