DERMOT Weld and Declan McDonogh followed up a treble at Leopardstown last Saturday by teaming up for a double at this additional fixture thanks to the Khalid Abdullah-owned pair Tankerville and Bona Fide.
Tankerville was all the rage on his debut in the mile Goresbridge Median Auction Maiden and the half-brother by Kitten’s Joy to Flavius, part of that Leopardstown treble when landing the Listed Trigo Stakes, duly obliged in fine style. The 4/5 favourite travelled strongly to lead over a furlong out and was well in command in the closing stages to beat Killourney by two and a quarter lengths.
“Declan described him as a powerful colt. He worked very nicely the other morning, and stretched away well for me at home. I thought he would win and I thought he did it very nicely,” said Weld before adding, “That’s it for this year and he’ll be a lovely mile and a quarter or mile and a half horse. We’ll probably start him off in the Ballysax.”
The same connections struck with the lightly-raced Bona Fide in the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap. The easy-to-back 8/1 chance was prominent throughout and responded gamely under pressure inside the final furlong to get the better of Roccia Bella by half a length, with Best Not Argue finishing well just a head further back in third.
Weld said: “She battled very well and that’s what won it for her. It was a good ride from Declan. There might be a listed race for her before the season is out. It is unlikely that she will stay in training next year so I’d like to let her take her chance once at blacktype level. She might have to travel but she might be worth travelling with. She’s in a good frame of mind, a very sound filly, and she’s tough and genuine.”
TOP-CLASS JUVENILES
Aidan O’Brien sent out yet another double with the impeccably bred Galileo juveniles Chablis and Albuquerque scoring for the Coolmore partners.
Chablis, a full-sister to The Pentagon and purchased for over 1.5 million guineas as a yearling, travelled sweetly throughout on her debut in the fillies’ maiden. The 8/1 chance made headway between horses to lead a furlong out, and kept on nicely under Wayne Lordan to beat Peruvian Lily by three-quarters of a length.
“I’d a good draw and over seven furlongs here it’s a huge help. I was able to travel around well, and when I got out she picked up and went to the line well. She’s a filly that will stay,” said Lordan.
Albuquerque (9/1-6/1) overcame a five-month break since his debut at Leopardstown when squeezing through a narrow gap on the rail inside the final furlong to beat uneasy 3/1 favourite and stablemate Empire State by a cosy neck in the seven-furlong maiden for colts and geldings.
Winning rider Seamie Heffernan said: “He’s a brother to Rip Van Winkle who had a nice run the first day and I liked him today. It was tight enough but I always had enough room. He’s above average.”
Shane Crosse continued a golden recent run which has taken him to the top in the apprentice title race as well-backed 5/1 favourite Tuamhain, trained by Joseph O’Brien for the Wait For Us Syndicate, quickened clear inside the final furlong to beat Ishigati by three and a half lengths in the Callan Handicap.
“The plan was to get her settled in behind one or two, and turning into the straight she was going the best of them. I probably got there a bit too soon but she kept at her game and put it to bed easy. In her two-year-old career she was a sprinter and we have changed her now that she stays a mile well. She finishes off that last furlong like a sprinter which is great,” said Crosse, partnering his fifth winner in the last four racing days and now two ahead (23-21) of Ben Coen, who was also on the scoresheet.
Aunty Audrey led over a furlong out under Coen in division two of the Gowran Handicap, and the Pat Flynn-trained 6/1 (from 8s) chance kept on well to beat Born To Frolic by a length and a quarter. “She’s a nice little filly and has won twice here this year. He said she felt great and he’s a good young fella. I’m delighted for the owner Simon Girvan who is very loyal. We’ll find another handicap for her and she’ll go to Dundalk,” said the Carrick-On-Suir trainer.
Art Of America recorded his second win at this venue in the space of eight days when taking division one of the extended nine-furlong handicap. Trained by Noel Meade for Philip Munnelly, the 5/1 chance enjoyed a much easier success on this occasion.
He cruised to the front two furlongs out and, after being ridden by Colin Keane to assert, drew right away to beat Giorni Felice by four lengths.
Meade said: “He probably improved a bit from last week, and the trip certainly would have helped him. If there is another race before the end of the flat season we might run him as long as he stays well. He’s not very big but he jumps quite well and he will try hurdles.”
Centrifolia, just pipped a short-head by Art Of America here the previous week, went one better when justifying favouritism in the Thomastown Handicap. Gary Carroll was again in the saddle and the well-supported 7/2 chance was driven to the front over a furlong before keeping on well to beat Royal Navy Warship by a length and three-quarters.
Winning trainer Joe Murphy said, “She’s a very well-bred filly. She’s owned by John Murrell (and Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez) and it’s great for her pedigree that she has won. I think there is more to come and she can improve after that. She may go to Galway.”
Acting Stewards
N. P. Lambert,
Ms M. Osborne, E. Halley, M. J. Murphy, M. F. O’Donoghue.
Horse To Follow
DEAN STREET DOLL (R. J. O’Brien) Never threatened following a slow start from a wide draw but kept on nicel yin the straight and should progress well from this.