SHE looked a filly with a future when scoring on her debut at Gowran Park last month and Naughty Or Nice more than delivered on that initial promise with a battling triumph in the inaugural Irish Stallion Farms EBF Yeats Stakes.
The John Oxx runner was the least experienced member of the field for this one-mile, five-furlong listed race and she was also the only filly in the field. However, this was no barrier to success for the Newtown Anner Stud-owned daughter of Fastnet Rock who can surely do better still after just two outings.
In the straight, Declan McDonogh had to extricate his mount from a rail position to make her bid and she then led just over a quarter of a mile from home.
Naughty Or Nice (4/1) kept on really well under strong pressure and had opened up a clear advantage entering the last furlong but she needed the line late on as the oncoming Grandee closed to within a head at the finish.
In the course of making her challenge, the winner hampered the third, Finn McCool, and she also tightened up the fourth-placed Belgravia inside the last furlong. This meant Declan McDonogh picked up a four-day suspension for two counts of careless riding.
“She was in a pocket and when the chance came to get her out Declan had to take it and as a result she found herself in front sooner than ideal for a green filly,” said John Oxx. “She stays well and she has a turn of foot too and she’s done that nicely. I do have her in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and she’s in the Munster Oaks, while the Queen’s Vase could be another option.”
It was a landmark day for the new venture Gaelic Thoroughbreds whose colours were carried to victory for the first time when Celebration picked up the five-furlong handicap.
A three-time winner in Britain and a 42,000gns purchase at the Tattersalls Horses In Training Sale, Celebration (7/2) was making his debut for Ger Lyons and he could be a sprinter to follow. The four-year-old moved into the lead for Colin Keane when a couple of the early pacesetters gave way with over a furlong to run and he kept on well to contain the favourite Miss Power by half a length.
“It’s great for the owners, which is a syndicate set up by David Spratt and he’s very good at sourcing these horses in training. They have six horses with me, three older horses and three two-year-olds,” reported Lyons. “He’s a straightforward horse who we were expecting a good run from and five or six furlongs is fine for him.”
MURTAGH’S TEAM
Johnny Murtagh’s juvenile team have made a bright start to the season and Guessthebill became the trainer’s third juvenile scorer of the campaign in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
Only five went to post for this five-furlong event and the David Bobbett-owned and bred winner headed the market at 2/5 following his debut second to T For Tango at Naas last month. When Pat Smullen asked the son of Reckless Abandon to shake off Himmah heading into the last furlong, Guessthebill responded to finish with a length and a quarter to spare. The runner-up acquitted herself well after getting loose beforehand.
“I was a bit concerned the ground might be a little quick for him but the showers helped,” reflected Murtagh. “He doesn’t look like a two-year-old and he’s done a lot quickly so hopefully he’ll be one that will do something nice for us later in the season. He wants six furlongs and will probably get seven in time.”
WINNING BRACKET
The well-bred Dierama (6/1) claimed a precious winning bracket as her last-gasp charge carried the day in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. The half-sister to the high-class sprinter Hamza, who has the likes of Anthem Alexander and Dandy Man among her immediate relations, was opening her account at the third attempt in this near six-furlong contest.
Wayne Lordan’s mount had most of the field to pass at halfway but she came with a whirlwind finish over the last furlong and a half to lead in the final yards. At the line, the Sonia Rogers-owned daughter of Dark Angel had half a length to spare over Snowstar.
“It’s important to win with her as she is very well bred,” commented Eddie Lynam. “She got a proper ride from Wayne and we’d planned to ride her that way. We’ll see what the handicapper makes of her.”
ROGERS’ WINNER
Harry Rogers’ first winner of the season arrived in style as Remarkable Lady (16/1) dominated the conclusion of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap over a mile. At least half the field were fanned across the track doing battle for the lead inside the last quarter of a mile but none had any answer to the Sean Davis-ridden filly. She stormed clear inside the distance to finish four lengths clear of Honor Oak.
“She was a bit disappointing at Roscommon last time but that was over a mile and a half and Pat Smullen said to come back in trip with her. She could run again on Guineas weekend,” reported Rogers of the Nap Racing Syndicate-owned mare.
Sheila Lavery made it three winners from her last five runners as the well-backed Twin Star upstaged the odds-on Clongowes in the Matthews Agri Maiden.
A heartening comeback sixth behind Gold Spinner at Cork meant that the Ronan Whelan-ridden gelding was backed from as big as 18/1 in the morning into 6/1 on course. Twin Star headed Clongowes nearing the final furlong and went to the line well to finish with a length and three-quarters to spare.
“Ronan said he was still quite green and that there should be more improvement in him,” declared Lavery, whose brother John owns the gelding. “He’s versatile in terms of ground and we might keep him at 10 furlongs for a three-year-old handicap here early next month.”
Michael O’Callaghan’s Veneer Of Charm (3/1) thoroughly vindicated his position as the favourite for the 45-65 rated three-year-old 10-furlong handicap as he registered a resounding triumph under Shane Kelly.
The Amethyst Syndicate-owned gelding seized control of this race over two furlongs from home and he readily dealt with the effort of Less Of That to finish with a length and three-quarters to spare.
ACTING STEWARDS
R. Dore, P. McCartan, Judge L. Reynolds, N. Colfer, M.F. O’Donoghue
Horse To Follow
SPANISH STEPS (A.P. O’Brien): He looked to improve on the form of his sole outing last season when taking third in the maiden won by Twin Star and he should progress.