SACRED Bridge looked the best horse in the race beforehand and duly bore out that view on the track as she took her tally to three wins from as many starts in the lucrative Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes.
After winning her maiden over this course and distance in late June before following up in a Tipperary listed race a week later, the Ger Lyons inmate looked a compelling contender for this €300,000 prize. The 15/8 favourite had to contend with a 5lb penalty for the listed success, which made this a stiff enough assignment for the Juddmonte-owned daughter of Bated Breath, but she rose to the challenge.
This near six-furlong dash was dominated by those with high draws and the Colin Keane-ridden Sacred Bridge could be picked out in a forward position as the field approached the last quarter of a mile. There was still much work to be done at this point but Sacred Bridge was not found wanting when it mattered.
The market leader toughed it out splendidly in the last furlong to get home by half a length from the English raider Bosh.
The 50/1 chance Ultramarine ran a huge race in third while fourth went to another of the raiders, Ever Given.
“It was a tough enough ask under a penalty but this is a huge prize so we decided to come here and we’re thrilled to get it done,” said the trainer’s brother, Shane. “Colin said she’s getting sharper with each run but five or six furlongs is fine for her and she’s in all the early closing races now so that is the route we will take with her.
“It’s great to win this for Juddmonte. Their pedigrees are second to none and they are great supporters of the yard.”
A trainer on quite a roll at the moment is Tom Gibney and he made it 14 winners under all codes since early May as the progressive Magic Chegaga (100/30) bagged a nice prize in the Weatherbys ePassport Handicap over 10 furlongs.
Now a winner of two of her three starts for Gibney, this filly looks destined for better things on this evidence. She defeated the unexposed Apprentice Derby winner Beyond Happy by one and three-quarter lengths which suggested that she would be worth another step-up in class.
A €12,500 purchase earlier this year, the Teofilo filly is owned by the Magic Lads Syndicate.
“She’s an improving filly and we felt the switch to a galloping track and a little ease in the ground would suit her. I might try and look for blacktype now,” remarked Gibney.
Fine season
A fine season for Pat Martin continued as the 20/1 chance Indiana Rose came from way off the pace to take the 45-65 rated sprint handicap.
The four-year-old, who is owned by Joan Brennan and only began her career earlier this season, was last through the early stages of this.
However, Dylan Browne McMonagle conjured quite a charge from his mount over the last quarter of a mile and she stormed home under the stand’s side rail to defeat the 7/1 joint Strange Times by half a length.
“Dylan is some rider. We felt we’d be outpaced early on but he didn’t panic and came over to get the best of the ground and he’s just riding with so much confidence,” observed Martin.
Albula and Ulster Blackwater double up for in-form O’Brien
JOSEPH O’Brien took the wraps off a juvenile of substantial promise in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile as Albula made a winning debut. The first produce of an Australian Group 3 winner and from the family of Detroit, this 12/1 chance looks destined to hold her own at a much higher level given the manner in which she overcame her inexperience.
Without having to be asked for everything by Declan McDonogh, the daughter of Galileo got into a challenging position inside the last quarter of a mile and got on top in likeable style over the last 100 yards to account for Dabana by a length and a quarter.
“I’m surprised that she was able to win first time out but I did think she would run a very nice race and she’s exciting I’d say.
“She’ll move into a listed or group race next,” reported the trainer, whose charge is owned by Flaxman Stables, Demi O’Byrne and Sue Magnier.
Blackwater’s trip
O’Brien promptly followed up with Ulster Blackwater (5/2) in the older fillies’ maiden over a mile where the 81-rated filly appeared to appreciate coming back in distance.
The Sun Bloodstock-owned daughter of Camelot, who defeated Ottoman Emperor in a barrier trial last September, had begun her career with solid runs over longer trips, but she looks to have found her true calling over this distance.
Shane Crosse produced her to head the favourite, Vario, and she went to the line well to finish three-quarters of a length ahead of the staying-on Climate.
“She’d been running well but probably doesn’t stay as far as I thought she would and this trip suited her well.
“I’d say she will step into a fillies’ handicap or a three-year-old handicap next,” declared O’Brien.
Shah winner
Jamie Powell notched up the second success of his career as he produced Anthony McCann’s Cliara (16/1) to pounce late in the Paragon Bloodstock Apprentice Handicap over 10 furlongs.
For much of the straight, the front-running Sanosuke and Snowy Owl battled up front and just as the former was getting back in top Cliara finished with a flourish to sweep to the front in the closing stages.
At the line the Rita Shah-owned winner had a length and three-quarters to spare.
Gold for Murphy in the Silver Ballyhane
FOR the second year in succession the consolation race for the day’s feature, the €50,000 Silver Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes, went to John Joseph Murphy who sent out the impressive Cavalry Charge (12/1) to defeat his stablemate Arges.
The National Stakes entrant came here off a midfield finish at Leopardstown maiden last month. The Hewins Hoare Partnership-owned colt was produced by Robbie Colgan to take charge well over a furlong out and launched a powerful finishing effort to see off the 76-rated Arges by five lengths: “He was just a bit green and silly the first day he ran and he was caught wide too. Robbie felt he would improve plenty and he could be a very nice horse,” said the trainer’s son George.
The dependable sprinter Blairmayne (8/1) pushed his earnings past the €150,000 mark as he notched up the fourth success of his career in the Barretstown Childrens Charity Handicap over six furlongs.
Genuine Blairmayne
Natalia Lupini trains the gelding for the Raintree Partnership and the hardy eight-year-old registered a two-and-a-quarter-length triumph under Shane Foley.
“They went hard up front which played to his strengths,” remarked Foley. “He’s getting a bit cuter as he’s getting older and didn’t really let himself down on the quick last time but he’s a grand, genuine horse.”