HARRY Rogers enjoyed his most significant success to date on the flat as Lord Erskine completed a hat-trick by landing the €100,000 Irish Cesarewitch in the hands of Conor Hoban.
The four-year-old Fast Company gelding led over a furlong out and stayed on strongly in the closing stages. The 25/1 chance had two and a half lengths to spare over the gallant Snow Falcon, who was trying to concede 20lb to the winner, while the veteran Ted Veale put in his best work at the finish to take third.
The Ardee trainer said: “They went a nice gallop and he was off a light weight. He was a weak horse when I got him first and he’s just got better with a bit of time. Jerry (O’Neill) has been a patient owner and it’s worked out. He could go now for the Naas November Handicap over a mile and a six.
“That would be as good a prize as I have won out from Silent Oscar winning the Champion Hurdle (in 2007) at Punchestown. It’s certainly my biggest on the flat.”
Colin Keane moved back one ahead of Pat Smullen in the flat jockeys’ championship (82-81) as Gobi Desert got up close home to land the Legacy Stakes. The 3/1 chance needed a strong drive inside the final furlong of this listed race to deny Golden Spell by half a length. Annette O’Callaghan’s Oasis Dream juvenile is trained by Ger Lyons who said: “You have to ride him cold but he’s a seven-furlong minimum horse on better ground. I should think that will be his final run (this year) and hopefully we will hold onto him. He will be a nice horse next year on better ground going further.”
Texas Rock recorded his second listed win this term with Fran Berry flying back for the day from his duties in Britain to take the Waterford Testimonial Stakes. The 16/1 chance got up close home to beat Son Of Rest by a neck.
Trainer Michael Grassick commented: “I was going to run him in the Concorde last weekend but the ground was so bad I’d only tear the heart out of him. We said we’d take a chance at six (furlongs) and Joe (Keeling, owner) was quite keen to give it a go.
“I thought he might get a bit outpaced but he was always comfortable and he was so genuine. The finish is testing here and we felt that would play into his hands. He will probably go for the Knockaire Stakes at Leopardstown over seven furlongs and that will be him for the year.”
The Staffordstown Stud Stakes was the third listed race on the card, and Bye Bye Baby followed up a recent Newmarket maiden win in fine style for Aidan and Donnacha O’Brien.
The Galileo filly went off the well-backed 5/4 favourite and justified the confidence by making all and asserting over a furlong out to beat Coeur D’Amour by two and a quarter lengths. “She’s done it nicely. She got it easy up front and quickened up well. She tries hard and is taking her racing well. Hopefully she will be a nice middle-distance filly next year,” said Donnacha O’Brien.
BATTLING
Krispen opened his account at the fifth attempt when showing good battling qualities to just get the better of the Eddie Lynam-trained pair Hot Stone and Soffia by a neck and a head in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. The 10/1 chance is owned and bred by James Monaghan and trained by Tim Doyle who said: “He’s been running well all year. Mentality is his problem as he has plenty of ability and is a real tough horse but he’s inclined to do too much too early. He showed today how tough he is as he looked beaten a furlong out and battled back. We’ll probably put him away now and he might make into a nice six or seven-furlong horse for us next year. He will definitely improve.”
Enter The Red (7/1), trained by Aidan Howard for his mother Nuala, recorded his sixth career win and second this season when getting on top in the closing stages of the five-furlong Navanracecourse.ie Handicap for Chris Hayes.
“He’s a legend and very easy to train. He goes home and eats up and goes out in the field every afternoon,” said the Curragh handler before adding, “I have to say it’s all down to Chris because after the last day I was letting him out for the winter and Chris gave me a ring and said to come here. I think I’ll let him off for the winter now as he deserves it.”
Landline provided Tom Cleary with his first winner of the season at Tipperary last month and his son Rory was again in the plate as the 10/1 shot responded gamely under pressure to beat Doonard Prince by half a length in the Royal County Handicap.
The Athlone trainer said: “He’s not the biggest so wouldn’t be able to carry a lot of weight and Rory gave him a hell of a ride. I’d like to dedicate this win to my son Paul’s father-in-law Jimmy Byrne who we buried yesterday. He came racing with me a lot and this is an emotional win.”
Jimmy Long’s Thistle Bloodstock colours were carried to success by Warp Factor in the New Troytown Bar Apprentice Handicap, with the 14/1 shot stretching clear inside the final furlong for Tom Madden to beat Bigger And Better by three and a half lengths.
Winning trainer Pat Shanahan said: “We have been trying him over all trips, grounds, hurdles, flat, everything. He has plenty of ability but loves the soft ground. We will probably find another race for him now and he’s in the sales at Newmarket.”
Cleary ban
RORY Cleary picked up a two-day ban for using his whip with excessive frequency when successful on Landline.
Acting Stewards
R. Dore, L. McFerran, E. Galvin, D. McCorkell, P.W. Murtagh.
Horse To Follow
BIGGER AND BETTER (A. J. Martin): Won twice for Richard Hannon over one mile, two furlongs and made a pleasing start for new connections over a mile after a year lay-off.