THE talented Bocca Baciata bounced back from a rare below par effort on her reappearance to record a smooth victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes.
A Group 3 and listed winner last season when she also ran well at the highest level, the Flaxman Stables-owned daughter of Big Bad Bob had plenty to spare on official ratings. Jessica Harrington’s charge did have to concede plenty of weight to the three-year-olds but she was just too strong.
The race itself went smoothly for Bocca Baciata who was held up initially before cruising into the lead as the last furlong loomed. At this stage the 6/4 favourite was in control and had dealt with the effort of Discipline but some late anxiety was to follow.
Colm O’Donoghue eased the winner right down late on and Discipline was afforded a needless second chance but despite her late lunge the latter went down by a head.
“She put it to bed quickly and cruised home,” said Mrs Harrington. “She has a lot of options so we’ll just have to see. I’m delighted she’s done that after the Curragh which was just a non-event (finished fourth to Zhukova).”
An industrious day for Ger Lyons, Colin Keane and owner Sean Jones yielded a double which was completed by Mint Chai (13/2) in the 188BET-sponsored conditions race over an extended nine furlongs.
This useful 90-rated gelding showed that he was all the better for last month’s comeback at the Curragh and he did battle with the front-running French Blue from early in the straight. Over the course of the last furlong Mint Chai gained the upper hand to score by half a length with the favourite Ebediyin a further three-quarters of a length away.
“I was a bit worried on ratings coming into this but he was fit and well and he’ll get further,” commented Lyons. “There isn’t much of him but he’s a pleasure to train and he’s not ground dependent. He could go for a listed race.”
Earlier Tony The Gent (14/1) commendably overcame the potentially mortal blow of a stall 16 draw on his debut in the Punchestown Betting At 188BET Maiden over seven furlongs. Colin Keane had to bide his time in midfield on the son of Kodiac but Tony The Gent picked up really smartly over the last furlong and a half to nail Schubert on the line.
“He’s a nice horse who is named after Tony O’Callaghan whom we bought him off,” remarked Ger Lyons of the Sean Jones-owned winner. “I thought that he’d run well today without winning so that’s a nice a surprise. Colin felt he’d have won easier if he’d been drawn in amongst them.”
WELD’S WINNERS
Another trio to end the day with two winners were Dermot Weld, Pat Smullen and Aga Khan and their brace was completed by the useful looking newcomer Ezanak in the nine-furlong colts’ maiden.
The well-related son of Sea The Stars was an 8/11 favourite and travelled nicely through the race before moving into the lead nearing the last couple of furlongs. Smullen never had to get too vigorous for his mount to account for the pace-setting Radar O’Reilly by a length and a quarter.
“He’s a nice colt who had been working well. He was backward last year and has matured a lot,” observed Weld. “We’ll look for a winners’ race and he wouldn’t mind going up to a mile and a half.”
DOUBLE
Another odds-on shot provided the first leg of the double as Shamreen (8/11) took advantage of a decent opportunity in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
The daughter of Dubawi made the running and over the course of the last quarter of a mile she contained the persistent 16/1 chance Shes An Art by two and a quarter lengths.
“She was second (to Somehow) in a very strong maiden at Leopardstown last time and that was a good, workmanlike performance,” stated Weld. “She’s a filly who will hopefully get blacktype as the year progresses.”
JUICE IN THE GROUND
Willie McCreery’s two strong assault on the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap saw the Billy Lee-ridden Champagne Or Water account for stablemate Colour Blue.
On her first outing since October the Leanne Scott-owned winner took over in front a quarter of a mile from home. Once she got to the front the 86-rated Champagne Or Water (8/1) kept on well to see off Colour Blue by a length.
“The winner had been training well and the little bit of juice in the ground suited. Hopefully there’s another handicap in her and then we’ll step her up,” commented McCreery. “The draw might just have cost Colour Blue a little bit and she had plenty of weight too.”
Texas Radio (11/2), who had shown definite promise in a couple of his recent outings, was a resounding winner of the Mobile Betting At 188BET Handicap. Wayne Lordan and son of Kyllachy had their rivals at full stretch a quarter of a mile from home and the Tadhg Geary-owned gelding finished with three and a half lengths to spare over Three Majors.
“He’s always shown us plenty at home but he’s been a slow learner. At Dundalk last time (finished fourth) I’m not sure if he didn’t stay the mile or just didn’t let himself down on the surface. He could go to Sligo on Sunday,” declared Michael Grassick.
Beechmount Whisper (5/2) readily coped with the burden of top weight to record his second victory of the season in the 188BET.co.uk Handicap.
As he looked to continue a fine run for Patrick Prendergast and Gary Halpin the Kodiac gelding was just 4lb higher for a recent Leopardstown triumph. Beechmount Whisper led early in the last furlong for a three-quarters of a length win over Double Fast.
“Gary felt that he’s a better horse on this better ground,” reflected Patrick Prendergast, who trains the gelding for Dolores Jones. “He jumps well and long term his future is over hurdles but we’ll try any win another one on the flat with him.”
Whip ban
Billy Lee picked up a one-day whip ban for his efforts on Champagne Or Water in the fillies’ handicap.
Gary Halpin was banned for a day for weighing in 1.7lb overweight in the handicap won by Texas Radio.
Acting Stewards
N.P. Lambert, Mrs. C. Corballis, A. Byrne, A.J. Molloy, L. Walsh, S. Quinn
HORSE TO FOLLOW
SRETAW (G. Cromwell): The former Irish Cambridgeshire winner showed that she was working her way back to peak form with a sixth to Champagne Or Water. There are more races to be won with her.