JOSEPH O’Brien made a bright start to the Killarney July Festival as he sent out a double for J.P. McManus which featured an impressive debut for Goodie Two Shoes in the fillies’ maiden over just short of a mile and a half.
A winning margin of just under five lengths relates that this was a decisive victory for the Declan McDonogh-ridden daughter of Fastnet Rock, but that doesn’t begin to tell the full story.
The 9/4 second favourite blew the start completely but a steady enough pace allowed her to get back into contention.
Goodie Two Shoes then came under pressure nearing the end of the backstraight but there was only going to be one outcome from early in the straight.
The relation to Authorized was switched out from behind the leaders to come with her effort entering the last quarter of a mile and it didn’t take long for her to get on top before she ran away from her discouraged rivals over the course of the last furlong. The presence of the 79-rated Ark nine lengths back in third would point to the winner’s capacity to make an impact at stakes level.
“She’s a lovely filly and is still a bit green and she just backed up in the stalls,” remarked the trainer’s representative Brendan Powell.
J.P.’s double
Less than a month on from springing a 40/1 shock in a Naas maiden, the McDonogh-ridden Didn’thavemuchtodo got the double underway in the three-runner Irish Stallion Farms EBF Race over a mile where she showed more than a hint of stakes-race potential.
The J.P. McManus-owned filly brushed aside the front-running Relevant Range with around two furlongs to run before a five-length victory over the 98-rated McTigue.
“Declan said they went a good gallop and that she will get further. She can only progress further so I’d say there’s definitely blacktype in her,” commented Brendan Powell.
AFTER winning the race with Piz Badile 12 months ago, Donnacha O’Brien and Gavin Ryan struck again in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden where Alder built on a debut fourth to Proud And Regal at the Curragh on Derby weekend.
The victorious 2/1 favourite, who carries the colours of Annmarie O’Brien, still looked distinctly green in the straight. However, as he became attuned to what was required from him Alder kept on nicely under a hand ride to get the better of Luxembourg’s unraced brother Hiawatha by a head.
The front pair finished three and a half lengths clear of the remainder and both look horses with prospects in much better company over the coming months.
“He’d a nice first run. He was a shade raw the first day and he is still quite raw and he’s won without having a hard race there,” commented the winning rider.
Shark attack
Aidan O’Brien got among the winners as Shark Bay (6/1) and Wayne Lordan ground out a gritty success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race over an extended 11 furlongs.
The Ulster Derby fourth looked to be in big trouble when Good Heavens, who didn’t enjoyed the smoothest of runs, loomed upsides approaching the last furlong. The 87-rated Shark Bay was game though and answered his rider’s every call to show in front again 100 yards from home and carry the day by a neck.
“He had a good run in Down Royal and got a lovely ride from Wayne.
He’s tough and hardy colt with a good attitude who always runs his race and I wouldn’t see any reason why he couldn’t step back into stakes company,” stated the stable representative Chris Armstrong.
The evening concluded with a winner for Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley as Rock On Candy (7/2) defied top weight in the Tote-sponsored 47-65 rated three-year-old handicap over 11 furlongs.
Rocking on
This Zhang Yuesheng-owned daughter of Fastnet Rock had been placed on three of her last four starts and bounced back to form here as she burst through between horses to take charge and get home by three-quarters of a length from Butterfly Blue.
JOHN Murphy further bolstered his fine course record as the classy Charterhouse (8/1) shrugged aside the burden of top weight in the Tote-sponsored mile handicap where he took advantage of a marked drop in class.
This four-year-old, who didn’t run at all badly in the 2020 National Stakes, had been keeping good company for the last year and a half and took full advantage of a switch down from stakes company.
The top-weight was going easily for Scott McCullagh when he struck the front early in the straight and then knuckled down well under pressure to withstand the last-furlong effort of Hale Bopp by half a length.
This was a third career success for the Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez-owned son of Charming Thought, whereas McCullagh was recording his first success at this track.
Johnny Levins reached double figures for the season for the third time in his career as Aristovic followed up a recent win at Tipperary in the Tote Always SP Or Better At Killarney Handicap for three-year-olds over a mile.
A steadily progressive filly who made light of a 7lb rise for Tipperary, the daughter of Awtaad was going easily for Joey Sheridan when striking the front at the two-furlong pole. From then on, the 9/2 chance always seemed to be in charge and she reached the line half a length ahead of Independent Expert. The winner is owned by David Spratt and Kevin McMunigal.
“Fair play to Johnny as it was a nice piece of placing to bring her down here and he knows this horse inside out and knew this track would suit her,” remarked Sheridan.
“I’m riding a bit of work for him now, his horses are flying and things are going well for him.”