AIDAN O’Brien and the Coolmore team of Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith haven’t had many Invincible Spirit colts over the years, but they have a smart sort in there Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden winner Pedestal who collected at the second time of asking under Seamie Heffernan at Tipperary’s mixed meeting on Thursday evening.
The easy to back 9/4 favourite was in the firing line from the outset and, despite drifting over to the stands’ side inside the final furlong, had one and three-quarters of a length to spare over Mayleaf Shine at the finish.
The Ballydoyle trainer’s son Joseph said: “It’s lovely ground here today and he loved it. He’s a nice horse and seemed to come on from the experience he gained at the Curragh the last day. The good ground helped as well.”
The juvenile showed signs of greenness and immaturity here and O’Brien jnr. added: “It suggests he’ll get better with racing and there is more to come from him. He’s a big horse and probably will get seven furlongs, but he’s bit of class got him through today.”
Pedestal was also eligible for two bonuses for winning the race, the Plus 10 bonus of €12,500 and a £25,000 Tattersalls bonus, as Joseph said: “He won more than a maiden today.”
The former dual champion flat jockey had a winner of his own when his mother Annemarie’s homebred Dylan Thomas filly Arya Tara gained a valuable bracket in the Follow @TipperaryRaces On Twitter Median Auction Maiden. Keeping it in the family, the 6/4 winner, who went to the front well inside the last, was ridden to her three and a half-length success by the owner’s daughter Ana.
Joseph O’Brien commented afterwards: “She was sick after Dundalk but had a good run in Wexford the last day. The step up in trip helped her too. We’d like to try and get blacktype for her.”
Top sprinter Osterhase’s half-sister Ostatnia showed her liking for the venue when leading or disputing throughout under Billy Lee in the Follow Tipperary On Facebook Handicap to gain the upper-hand over Chiclet in the final 50 yards for a one and a quarter length win. The favourite Lady Mega could finish only fourth.
The well supported 7/2 chance is trained by in-form Willie McCreery for his Rathbride neighbour Stephen McCarthy. The trainer stated: “She’s lazy and probably needed the two runs. The draw helped us and the faster the ground the better - she loves to rattle of it.
“That’s her level now and we will try and get a bit of blacktype for her at the end of her career. We’ll be looking at premier handicaps, but she’s experienced enough to go to England now and I just liked the way she went with Chiclet all the way.”
Henry’s Girl from the John Kiely yard scooped the honours in the Tipperary BBQ Evening Handicap with a decisive win in the hands of Niall McCullagh. Market leader Here For The Craic finished a further one and a quarter lengths away in third.
Kiely has had a near 30-year association with the 9/2’s winner owner/breeder Ranka Pollmeier and the trainer said of Henry’s Girl: “She needs that ground (officially good to firm, firm in places) and ran well at the Curragh last Saturday. Hopefully she’ll get another one. “
As the emphasis switched to the National Hunt brigade, Tony Martin was the first to strike with the hot favourite Heartbreak City in division one of the TipperaryRAces.ie Maiden Hurdle. Carrying the colours of the Here For The Craic Partnership made up of friends of the late George Swan who died from cancer last autumn, the well-backed 4/7 favourite got on top for Jack Kennedy close home for a head win.
“He’s a decent enough horse, but he’s had issues over the years,” said the trainer. “Now that he’s done his job, there no rush.”
The Mark Cahill-trained Pilgrim Way, who’s Dublin-based owner Frank McNulty was otherwise engaged playing golf reaped the reward for his consistency with a well-deserved success in the Buy Tickets OnLine At Tipperaryraces.ie Handicap Hurdle.
Sean Flanagan’s mount (6/1) through down his challenge between horses to lead before the last and was driven out to account for Plain Talking by one a half lengths.
Co Tipperary-based Cahill said: “He’ll go for another handicap and wants that kind of ground. He’ll be kept going for the summer and have one or two more runs and then go chasing.”
Jockey Mark Bolger made a welcome return to the winners’ enclosure after landing division two of the maiden hurdle abroad Jessica Harrington’s 9/2 winner Weather Watch who was left to collect by eight and a half lengths after Beau Mome took a fall that late proved to be fatal at the final flight.
Mrs Harrington has care of the six-year-old for the Oaktree Racing Club from Dublin which has members from all four provinces and is hoping to expand. The trainer reported: “He’s leased to them and is the first horse I have for them. He had leg trouble and that’s why he didn’t run until the backend of last year. He jumped the last really well and would have got to Beau Mome anyway.”
Weather Watch will mix it under both codes for the remainder of the year, with Mrs Harrington concluding: “I’ll try and find a conditions race for him on the flat.”
Recent court winner Miss Eyecatcher back up her point-to-point mares bumper win with further success for the trainer and jockey combination of Roger McGrath and Finny Maguire in Tipperary Mares (Pro-Am) Flat race.
The 8/1 shot returned to an enthusiastic reception from members of the Connery Family Syndicate from Clashmore after gaining her three quarters of a length win over Glendine River.
Miss Eyecatcher is from the family of Miss Orchestra and her Aglish handler commented: “She’s an improving mare and she’ll be left off now for a summer’s grass. She’ll get a good break and then we’ll start her off over hurdles in the autumn when the ground eases. She’s something to look forward to.”
Weigh ban
Amateur Luke McGuinness picked up a one-day ban for weighing-in overweight in the bumper.
Start inquiry
Sean Flanagan and Bryan Cooper lodged a complaint about the start of the seventh race.
The stewards were satisfied that a fair start had been effected but, after hearing the evidence, referred the matter on to the Turf Club for talks about having new recorders and amplifiers in operation at the start in future.