THE classy Rose De Pierre signalled that she is set for an industrious season in good company by getting her campaign off to a successful start with a battling triumph in the Listed Heritage Stakes.
Already a winner at listed level, the Dermot Weld-trained filly was making just the sixth appearance of her career and she picked up nicely for Pat Smullen as the runners filed into the straight.
The Dubawi four-year-old quickened up to lead with over a furlong to run and soon held a clear advantage. However she had to dig in late on as the oncoming Marshall Jennings forced a bobbing finish and Rose De Pierre (11/4) had just a head to spare at the line.
“That was a very positive performance from a very consistent filly,” said Weld. “She’s now won twice at stakes level so we’ll look to find a group race for her next and we’ll keep an open mind to where she goes - it’s a long year. She wouldn’t want extremes of ground and I’d say a mile is as far as she wants to go.”
The card concluded with a terrific display from Torcedor who made short work of a field containing Twilight Payment and Forgotten Rules in the SPIN 1038 Race over a mile and three-quarters.
Formerly a winner on Irish Champions Weekend, the five-year-old had work to do on official ratings but he looks a potentially quality stayer on this evidence.
The 8/1 chance helped to force the pace for Colm O’Donoghue and the race was a decidedly one sided affair once Forgotten Rules was shaken off turning for home.
Torcedor stayed on powerfully over the last quarter of a mile to finish with five and a half lengths to spare over Twilight Payment.
“He’s had a wind operation since he came to me from David Wachman’s,” reported Harrington. “Hopefully he’ll be a horse for some good staying races and I’d say the ease in the ground gets the best out of him. He will go jumping eventually.”
John Oxx took the wraps off a very nice type in Bengala (14/1) who made a perfect start to her career in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over 10 furlongs.
In the colours of Belmont Stakes-winning owner Shell Evans, and a €350,000 recruit from the Wildenstein Stables Dispersal last September, this daughter of Pivotal looks well equipped for a step up to stakes level.
The Declan McDonogh-ridden daughter of the top-class Bright Sky had it all to do from seventh turning for home but she soon started to pick up well.
She moved into a menacing fourth with a furlong to run and sustained her effort to land in front on the line, defeating fellow newcomer Aurora Butterfly by a short-head.
“She’s a nice, athletic filly filly, she’d been working well and I’m not surprised she was able to win,” reflected Oxx. “I’d say she’s pretty versatile in terms of the ground and she would be able to come back in trip but the Salsabil Stakes at Navan later in the month would be a possibility.”
Ger Lyons has a nice middle-distance prospect on his hands in Insayshable (6/1) who won the traditionally smart 10-furlong colts’ maiden to deliver on the considerable promise of his sole outing last season.
This son of Rajj, whose handful of runners have made a good impression, got into contention early in the straight. He then sustained his effort for Colin Keane to get the better of Venice Beach before crossing the line a length and a quarter ahead of Naturalist. Insayshable is a half-brother to his trainer’s dual Group 3 heroine Ainippe.
“He’s a lovely horse with a great temperament and we know that he’s up there with our nice ones at home. It’s great for (owner) Homer Scott too,” commented Lyons. “I would have preferred to start him over a mile but the ground was just too heavy at Naas. He’s still a bit on the leg so I’ll let him tell me where we go next.”
The ultra-reliable Beechmount Whisper (8/1) notched-up his third course success in the seven-furlong handicap. The strapping son of Kodiac made the most of his inside draw and showed in front from an early stage for Gary Halpin.
Beechmount Whisper then asserted off the last bend before holding off the oncoming Club Wexford by half a length.
“He’s been schooling over hurdles for the last month and was just getting a little tired late on,” declared Patrick Prendergast, who trains the winner for Dolores Jones.
“He’s already won his maiden hurdle so we’ll try and win a handicap hurdle and a novice chase with him during the summer. Being drawn one was a big help given how he likes to race.”
The lightly-raced Ace Of Diamonds (14/1) came good on his fifth career outing in the 45-75 rated 10-furlong handicap to provide Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen with their opening winner of the card. On his first run since July the Dr Ronan Lambe-owned four-year-old led deep inside the last furlong for a head triumph over the 66/1 shot Reinas Queen.
“He got a very good ride from Pat. I thought he’d run well and he will go for a similar handicap next,” declared Weld.
Prove The Point, who is trained by Michael Mulvany for his brother Lawrence, turned out in fine form for her first start since last October to claim the J.J. Kavanagh & Sons Handicap over a mile.
Gary Carroll produced the 16/1 with her challenge nearing the furlong pole and a willing Prove The Point saw off the four-timer chasing Try Again by a head.
“We’ll see how she comes out of this and what the handicapper does but she may well go to Tipperary next Tuesday,” reported Mulvany.
ACTING STEWARS
R. Ryan, N.B. Wachman, J.M. McGrath, M. Magnier, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
LONGING (A.P. O’Brien): This Galileo filly shaped up nicely to be beaten by less than a length in the 10-furlong maiden. She was quite green in the closing stages but showed substantial promise and won’t have any trouble making her mark in a maiden.