STELA Star, the 33/1 outsider of the five runners field, gave Tom Mullins the first Group 3 success of his training career as the unconsidered daughter of Epaulette picked up an invaluable blacktype triumph in the penultimate pattern race of the season.
After getting off the mark at the third attempt in a Dundalk maiden last month, this €23,000 yearling purchase had the option of the Foran Final at Naas the following afternoon but she rewarded a brave call from her trainer to instead tackle this seven-furlong race.
Stela Star, who is out of a half-sister to One Master, got a canny front-running ride from Colin Keane.
Her rivals all had their chances in the straight and Camachita and Katiba both threatened but Stela Star, one of the longest priced winners in this race’s history, was unfaltering at all stages. The favourite Iberia came though to lead the chase late on but the day belonged to the Helen Mullins-owned filly who prevailed by a length and a half.
Guineas
“She’s just improved leaps and bounds since Dundalk and this race was the last roll of the dice for the season. I was hoping to be placed so I’m delighted and surprised in equal measure,” said Mullins. “That will be it for the year and I suppose she will be back here in the spring for a Guineas trial.”
Tom Mullins promptly followed up with the impressive Takarengo (6/1) in the Idealgraphix.ie Handicap over a mile and a half. The improving three-year-old followed up last month’s Roscommon win, for which he was raised 8lbs, with a powerful finishing effort for Billy Lee that saw him defeat Future Proof by just over four lengths for owner Rita Byrne.
“He could go for either a good handicap here next Saturday (today) or the November Handicap the following week. We’ll then see about hurdling and he might be an Ebor horse in time. He’s just getting it together and the future is bright for him,” commented Mullins.
The card concluded with a hugely impressive display from Lady Stormborn (16/1) who ran out a 14-length winner of the 10-furlong maiden.
Promise
Another winner for Andy Slattery and his son, Andrew, this Paul Kinane-owned daughter of Camelot showed promise on her first two runs but was a revelation here as she stormed clear of the field from the turn-in. This was the three-year-old’s first time on ground this slow and she could easily be stakes class on testing ground next year.
O’Brien across the card double
AIDAN O’Brien notched up two victories on this card to go with his big race double at Ascot and his domestic brace featured a gritty win for Mount Everest (11/4) in the Listed Trigo Stakes.
Ancient Spirit got loose on the lead in this 10-furlong affair which left Mount Everest with plenty to do in the straight but he responded to Wayne Lordan to nail the front-runner on the line. This was just the third start of the season for the Flaxman Stables Ireland-owned colt and he could progress into a quality four-year-old next term.
Earlier, O’Brien’s Celtic High King showed excellent progress from his debut sixth at Killarney’s August Festival to spring a 25/1 surprise in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden over a mile.
Emmet McNamara’s mount drew alongside stablemate Nobel Prize and Agitare approaching the last furlong and stuck to his task well to prevail by a length and three-quarters. The winner is the latest produce of his trainer’s 1000 Guineas winner Homecoming Queen.Star filly
Amma Grace has plenty of potential
SEARCH For A Song’s younger sister Amma Grace (2/1) signalled that she will be a force to be reckoned with over middle-distances in 2020 as she progressed from a pleasing debut third at Cork to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile for Moyglare Stud.
The testing ground made this an exacting test for these juveniles and Amma Grace was left in splendid isolation when Oisin Orr sent her away from the weakening Sindhia turning for home.
Effort
Rosca Roma threatened with a steady effort down the centre of the track but an unyielding Amma Grace got to the line with three-quarters of a length to spare. This victory meant that Orr was making it 40 winners for the season, double the tally he achieved when he was champion apprentice in 2017.
“The race fell apart a bit and she was in front sooner than ideal but she was very brave and very honest and Oisin felt she was going away again at the line. She’ll be a nice filly for next year,” reported the trainer’s son Kris.
It was a notable day in the career of apprentice jockey Shane Crosse who saw his claim reduced from 5lbs to three as he recorded a double. Last year’s champion apprentice notched up his second winner of the day aboard Quizical (100/30) in the Tote Supporting Irish Racing Since 1930 Handicap over a mile.
Sheila Lavery’s charge was taking a marked drop in class after contesting the Group 3 Concorde Stakes last time and this race was as good as over when he brushed aside the front-running Spanish Tenor shortly after turning in.
The four-year-old, in the colours of the trainer’s brother John, kept on strongly to defeat Lusis Naturea by just under four lengths. This victory meant that Sheila Lavery matched her previous personal best tally of 14 winners for a season.
Crosse’s claim was officially reduced to 3lbs when Zoom Zoom Babe (8/1) pounced late in the mile nursery which represented her first venture outside of maiden company. The Carmel Acheson-owned filly didn’t enjoy the smoothest of runs through the race but when she did get into the clear she flew home to edge out fellow Joseph O’Brien-trained runner Total Euphoria.