SELDOM, if ever, has there been a more popular or well received winner at Roscommon than Greanta, who recorded a victory that was both memorable and poignant for Tom and Rory Cleary in the Sean Cleary Memorial Handicap.
In a race named in honour of the trainer’s son and rider’s brother who lost his life in a fall at Galway in 2003, Greanta was nothing short of a fairytale winner as she made a successful debut for her trainer.
At the Cleary family’s local track, the daughter of Intense Focus produced a thoroughly determined effort over the last quarter of a mile. She answered her rider’s every call to get the better of Liberty’s Gift and prevail by three-parts of a length to spark joyous scenes.
“It means an awful lot to win Sean’s race and especially here in Roscommon which is my local track and Michael Finneran (manager) and Dick O’Brien (director) here would do anything for you,” said a delighted Tom Cleary who trains the winner for his nephew James Derwin.
“A lot of the credit goes to Jim Bolger as I bought her shortly after she last ran for him at Leopardstown. I said to Jim that I was looking for a horse with a chance in Sean’s race and he delivered. She got a superb ride from Rory and it’s just a great result.”
A STEP UP
Last Waltz indicated that she could be ready to hold her own in good company over the course of the autumn as the David Wachman-trained juvenile recorded an impressive success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Race.
The Evie Stockwell-owned daughter of Danehill Dancer hadn’t run since finishing third to Promised Money on her debut at Cork, in May, but an 87 day absence and a step up to an extended seven furlongs was no problem for her.
Last Waltz (11/2) travelled notably well in second from early on and she then moved past previous winner Henshaw to take control shortly after turning in.
Billy Lee’s mount quickened into a commanding lead en-route to a three and three-quarter lengths victory over the staying on newcomer Reddot Roman.
“She got a good position from her wide draw and travelled well all the way,” reflected Billy Lee. “She got a little lonely in front but went to the line well and that was a good performance.”
DOING BATTLE
It was an excellent evening for trainer John Joe Walsh who notched up a double which was completed by the 50/1 newcomer The Mulcare Rover in the two and a half miles maiden hurdle.
As the runners filed into the straight the outcome looked to rest between Ultimate Horseman and Little Mitch but Brian O’Connell conjured a relentless charge from The Mulcare Rover and this carried the Pushkin gelding to the front on the run in. At the line the five-year-old, who is owned by Newport-based Willie Allen, had a length and a quarter to spare.
“I thought that he’d run well but that greenness might catch him out. He’s a nice horse and won well at the line, I only have him about three months,” stated Walsh.
The trainer was earlier successful with the well-backed Wate And See (11/4) as she recaptured the form that enabled her to win twice last summer to justify some good support in the Murray Ambulance Service Mares Handicap.
The Adrian Heskin-ridden daughter of Definite Article was left doing battle with Presenting Mahler when The Absent Mare crashed out at the second last and she pulled away late on to score by two lengths.
“She’ll hopefully be able to win another one. She wants the ground on top and I was worried it might have gone a bit slow for her tonight. It didn’t look a great race,” declared Walsh who trains the winner for the B.S. Racing Syndicate.
FIRST FOR ROONEY
Gordon Elliott made his first runner for prominent English owners Paul and Claire Rooney a winning one as Officer Sydney made a successful transition to jumping in the Michael and Teresa Keogh Memorial 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle.
A recent 25,000gns purchase at the July Sale, the 100/30 shot was produced by Paul Carberry to hold every chance from three out. He got away quicker from the last than the challenging Lake Champlain and the Lawman gelding then held the effort of stablemate Persiflage by a length and a quarter.
“He’s a grand, big, honest horse and Paul just felt he was a bit novicey early on. He’ll probably go to Perth in a few weeks,” reported Elliott. “He’s an important winner for the Rooney’s. They’ve quite a few horses in UK and this is the first horse they’ve had with me and it’s their first runner in Ireland.”
BACK IN FORM
Acid, whose efforts in the spring featured a third to Curvy at Navan, bounced back to form for Kevin Prendergast and Chris Hayes in the Pyramid Bookmakers Fillies Handicap.
In the colours of Liz Barry, whose husband Frank is a long-term ally of the trainer and bred Prendergast’s dual Group 1 winner La Collina, Acid (11/2) launched a steady effort over the last furlong and a half to defeat Cocoon by three-parts of a length.
“She ran well in the spring and the deeper the ground the better she’ll be. We’ll keep her moving and she will run again when there is some soft ground. She may win again,” reported the trainer.
COMPETITIVE CONTEST
Sabrina Harty’s Empress Toorah, who won a 10 furlongs handicap on this card last year, recorded a smooth success in the Abbey Hotel Roscommon Handicap.
Fresh from a recent triumph at Cork, the Leigh Roche-ridden filly led around two furlongs from home and soon held a useful advantage over the field.
None of her rivals were able to land a telling blow as the 13/2 chance registered a cosy length and a quarter victory over Strait Of Zanzibar in what had looked quite a competitive contest.
“She’s versatile ground-wise and coming back to seven furlongs has suited her, she’s a much stronger and bigger filly this year,” remarked the trainer whose charge is owned by Margaret Nevin. “Leigh is confident that she will be able to get blacktype and that’s the aim.”