TOMMY Stack’s Onenightidreamed once again showed that on testing ground he is well up to pattern level as he claimed the second Group 3 triumph of his career in the Big Bad Bob Gladness Stakes.
On just his seventh outing, the five-year-old had plenty to do on ratings and he had to settle for seventh when looking for a repeat success in last month’s Lincoln. However, the switch back to heavy ground was certain to suit the Amethyst Stakes hero and the conditions ensured that the drop back to seven furlongs for the first time wasn’t a major obstacle.
The 9/1 chance was kept close to the pace by Wayne Lordan and was still going nicely inside the last two furlongs while a number of his rivals were struggling badly on the ground. Lordan soon had the Footstepsinthesand gelding pressing Flight Risk for the lead and when it mattered most Onenightidreamed was more than equal to the task. He edged ahead in the last 50 yards to defeat Flight Risk by half a length with Joailliere securing third ahead of the Lincoln victor Sruthan.
“The ground made it a level playing field,” reflected the trainer’s son Fozzy. “On ratings he had plenty to do but he just grows a leg on that ground and it helps that he’s a very willing customer. He did come on from his run in the Lincoln where he’d a lot of weight and got interfered with early on. If it stays raining he’ll keep going and there’s races like the Heritage Stakes and the Amethyst for him in the next few weeks.”
Zhukova (6/1) served notice that she could be set for a big season as she returned with a career best display that yielded a resounding triumph in the Coral.ie Alleged Stakes. This contest marked the reappearance of the Breeders Cup Turf heroine Found, but she had to settle for third as Zhukova emerged as the star turn.
A daughter of her trainer’s Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime, the Chantal Regalado-Gonzalez-owned winner was making her first appearance since landing the Oyster Stakes last September. Pat Smullen had her tracking the front running Success Days from the outset before then moving her up to challenge inside the last quarter of a mile. It wasn’t long before Zhukova got to the front and she maintained a relentless tempo to score by four and a quarter lengths.
“She’s a nice mare who has strengthened up and matured over the winter. My late mother bred her and we have all the family,” declared Weld. “She handled the ground and hopefully it’s upwards from here – this was an excellent renewal of the race. We might now look at the Blue Wind Stakes at Naas.”
NEWCOMER
Huge interest surrounded the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, which attracted two newcomers of real note in US Army Ranger (15/8) and Aasheq (11/10). This pair duly dominated the finish of this 10 furlongs contest and US Army Ranger, who has figured prominently in the betting for the Epsom Derby for some time, came out on top to look a colt of stellar potential.
The Ryan Moore-ridden winner crept his way into contention and he was a menacing presence in behind Aasheq with a quarter of a mile to run. The son of Galileo and Moonstone then picked up nicely inside the distance to score by an assured three-parts of a length. Interestingly Ruler Of The World won this race on his debut in 2013 en route to Epsom glory and US Army Ranger is as low as 10/1 to follow suit.
“We thought he was very nice last year but he didn’t get to run,” stated O’Brien. “He’s been working well at home with horses with group form. He’d only have time for one more run between now and the Derby and I’d say he might either go to the Derrinstown or head to Chester.”
Mr Right (12/1) served notice that he could be a sprinter on the up with a taking display in the Coral-sponsored six furlongs handicap. Ronan Whelan’s mount wasted no time building up a commanding advantage when striking for home nearing the last furlong. At the line the Derek Healy-owned and bred winner had half a length to spare over the unlucky Master Speaker. The latter couldn’t get a clear run at a vital stage and he only had a couple of rivals behind him entering the last furlong but he finished strongly.
“He’s matured beyond all recognition since coming back from a break. I think he could be a smart sprinter and hopefully we can look forward to races like the Scurry and Rockingham later in the season,” reported Johnny Levins.
Buenos Y Bobos (11/1) made the perfect start for owner-trainer Paddy Twomey in the Coral.ie Best Price Guaranteed Handicap 10 furlongs handicap. The Big Bad Bob gelding, who was picked up for just 3,000gns at the Tattersalls horses in training sale in October was rated as high as 98 last season but had tumbled down to a mark of 85 for his first outing of the campaign. Buenos Y Bobos eased into contention for Billy Lee entering the last quarter of a mile and then found plenty for pressure to deny Gallope by three-parts of a length.
“I was hoping for a decent run and he coped well with the ground. He’s come down the ratings and that helped him,” reflected Twomey.
Her form last year included a placed effort over a mile and Ceol An Ghra’s proven stamina was an irresistible asset in the Coral and EBF-sponsored six furlongs fillies maiden. The Jim Bolger-trained and Kevin Manning-ridden three-year-old wasn’t going as well as some of her rivals with two furlongs to run but nothing saw out the race better. She first dealt with Sufoof and then finished out well to deny the favourite Waitaki by half a length.
“Her trip is a mile but I thought that the six furlongs would take plenty of getting today. We will look at stakes races with her now,” reported Bolger whose wife, Jackie, owns the daughter of Teofilo.
The McGregornator (16/1) showed his unplaced run in the first juvenile race of the season to be all wrong as he came out on top in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden. The Bushranger gelding faced three rivals that had finished in front of him last time and these included the odds on favourite Callender. For much of the last two furlongs Gary Carroll and The McGregornator looked set for second as they tried to close down Callender but it was all change in the last 100 yards. The very willing winner was rewarded for his tenacity as Callender faltered and gave best nearing the line.
“He’s tough. I don’t know what happened the first day but Gary minded him,” commented Keatley who also owns the €7,500 yearling purchase. “The more you get stuck into him the more he finds. He was the most effective on the ground today and he’ll get six furlongs.”
O’Brien happy
with Found
AIDAN O’Brien expressed himself happy with Found’s comeback third in the Alleged Stakes and he indicated that the Breeders’ Cup heroine would have another run before tackling the Tattersalls Gold Cup.
“She was a bit fresh and keen and just got tired on the ground. She’ll be fine though and the plan was to get two runs into her before the Tattersalls Gold Cup,” stated O’Brien. Gordon Lord Byron was reported to have scoped wrong following his unplaced comeback in the Gladness Stakes.
ACTING STEWARDS
P.N. Reynolds, E. Flannery, L. McFerran, Mrs. C. Corballis, P.D. Matthews
HORSE TO FOLLOW
AASHEQ (D.K. Weld): This well bred son of Dubawi made a very bright start to his career in taking second behind US Army Ranger. It could be that the finish of this race was dominated by two very good colts and there are some good days ahead for Aasheq.