ANDY Slattery and the lucky Men Of Forty Eight Syndicate have shared in many successes over the years and they are heading to Ballybrit with Ballyduane Stud Race winner Spioraid Saoirse for a €30,000 handicap.
A 12th winner to date for talented 7lb claimer Ben Coen, the 7/2 chance was in the first two throughout and took it up with three and a half furlongs to race. Setting for home at the quarter mile pole, Spioraid Saoirse was tackled by the favourite True To Herself but saw it out well to score by one and three quarter lengths.
Slattery said: “I couldn’t believe he was 6/1 this morning. He got boxed in at Leopardstown last week where things just didn’t go right for him and it was the same in a premier handicap at Navan earlier this year.
“We’ve just been kind of riding him wrong and lost a few races on him but he was very professional there and is learning all the time. He’s tough, goes on any ground and stays a mile and a quarter. He’ll get a short break and come back for a mile handicap on Plate day.”
Motherhood evidently becomes Artistic Melody, from the Ger Lyons stable, who put her best foot forward for champion jockey Colin Keane when responding to pressure to take the Croom House Stud 50-80 Handicap at a price of 4/1.
Vincent Gaul’s Zoffany mare was driven out to collect by one and three-quarter lengths, after which the trainer’s brother and assistant Shane commented: “She’s in foal to Awtaad so that’s probably his first winner! She’s a filly we paid a good few quid for and it was Vincent’s idea to cover her. It’s really sweetened her up since we put her in foal.
“We’ll keep going with her until mid-August and keep mixing it over seven furlongs and a mile. Vincent’s son David is getting married today in their house in Swords and he said to run her to give them a cheer.”
GOOD SERVANT
Kieran Purcell’s good servant You Can’t Catch Me brought up a double for Keane with his three-quarter-length defeat of Political Policy in the 50-85 handicap, a race in which the favourite Denham Sound had to settle for third.
The 5/1 shot, who races in the colours of the trainer’s daughter Elaine, was winning his seventh race and is likely to bid to increase that tally at Galway. “He loves quick ground – you couldn’t get it hard enough for him and, if the ground is suitable, he’ll maybe go to Galway,” was Purcell’s reaction. “That should get him into the GPT.”
Willie McCreery saddled Case Stated for an all-the-way in under Nathan Crosse, the ninth win of his career, in the claiming race. Nibbled at in the betting from 7/1 into 5/1, Mary O’Leary’s three-year-old Approve gelding was chased home by Tennessee Waltz and three quarters of a length separated the duo at the line.
“He’s a very honest little horse and very sound,” said the trainer. “He’s a bit limited but he puts his head down and Nathan gave him a very good ride and did exactly what he was told. I’ve had a few of those Approves and I like them.” There was no bid for Case Stated, but Steelriver was subsequently claimed back by his trainer.
SIMILAR TACTICS
Stable-companion Amaira, the 2/1 favourite, set out to adopt similar forcing tactics in the median auction fillies’ maiden, but faded into fourth behind the easy-to-back Aidan O’Brien-trained 9/4 chance Fleeting who stuck with the new leader Vallambrosa inside the final furlong to get up by a neck in the hands of Derby-winning jockey Padraig Beggy.
The daughter of Zoffany races for the Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith alliance and her rider stated: “Aidan had her prepared nicely for the day and, in fairness, I thought I had Billy Lee (on the runner-up) to beat. I went to the front and thought I got there too soon but she battled away again and did it well.”
The money came for the Aga Khan’s homebred roan filly Imrana in the older fillies’ maiden and Dermot Weld’s 7/4 favourite did not disappoint when running out a decisive two and a half-length winner for Declan McDonogh from Baby Pink.
The jockey commented: “She’s progressive and was just raw the first day. She just missed the beat again today and the only time in the race that she started to carry me was when Billy (Lee on Bongiorno) came to me. She’s just immature and raw but she’s learning all the time and I liked the way she did it in the last 200 yards. She’ll get further and is versatile ground-wise.”
Fitzwilliam Racing’s Baba Boom kept up Johnny Murtagh’s hot streak when kept at full stretch by Ross Coakley to justify 2/1 favouritism in the Grant Thornton 45-65 Apprentice Handicap by two and a quarter lengths from Dasmyhoss.
“He ran very well at Navan where he stayed on,” said the trainer. “He’s a huge big horse but he strengthened up over the winter and has put on 20 kilos this year. He’s a handicapper and we’ll keep him going in handicap company.”
Murtagh also paid tribute to the efforts of the ground staff with his comment: “They’ve done a great job on the ground – it’s absolutely beautiful flat racing ground.”
Halpin ban
GARY Halpin picked up a three-day ban at Limerick for using his whip unnecessarily on My Amazing One in the sixth race after his chance of winning or being placed had clearly gone.
Acting Stewards
J. Moloney, P. McLernon, J. Martin Smith, G. Coughlan, P.D. Matthews.
HORSE TO FOLLOW
STEELRIVER (J.F. Levins): Finished well to take fourth in the six-furlong, 150-yard claiming race and could be of interest if he goes back to the all-weather where he is rated higher.