FOR the second week in succession, the night’s €24,000 feature went to the Damien English yard on what was a red letter evening for both the trainer and successful jockey Michelle Hamilton.
For Ardcath-born Hamilton, the mount on the victorious Geological was just the seventh of her career, while this success meant that English brought up his first double since he began training. After picking up her first outside ride just minutes before the deadline for the nomination of riders loomed the previous morning, the Garvan Donnelly-based apprentice certainly made the most of this opportunity.
A resurgent Geological, who was running off a mark much lower than a year ago, was belatedly opening his account in Ireland having run some fine races in defeat last winter. The 8/1 shot was close to the pace at all stages and when the front-running Chiclet folded inside the last couple of furlongs Geological took over before sticking to his task determinedly to cross the line a length clear of Shepherd’s Purse.
“He worked really well here on Tuesday under Rory Cleary. Unfortunately we found out at 10 yesterday morning that Rory had to ride for Mr Bolger and it was only at a quarter to 12 that we got Michelle,” said English of the 800 guineas purchase. “She’s given the horse a great ride and made her move at just the right time. I’m delighted for her. This fella has been knocking on the door and I’ve been kicking myself that he hadn’t won up to now.”
The English double began when recent recruit Dance Alone bagged the apprentice rider’s handicap. Following several outings at sprint distances the 6/1 chance was quite at home tackling this seven-furlong trip. Donagh O’Connor’s mount made his way to the front with over a furlong to run and kept on doggedly to contain Roachdale House by half a length.
“I thought that he’d be a sprinter and we gave him a few runs over sprint trips but he was a different horse tonight over the longer trip,” reflected English, whose two winners carried the colours of Grougha Stables Limited.
BACK TO BUSINESS
Connor King, who spent almost three months on the sidelines when fracturing a vertebrae in a fall at the Galway Festival, rode his first winner since returning from injury as Alfredo Arcano (2/1) took the five-furlong conditions race. The David Marnane-trained juvenile was only just denied by Duplication here a fortnight ago but the latter had to carry a 5lb penalty on this occasion which tipped the balance in favour of the Martin McHale-owned gelding. The 80-rated Alfredo Arcano saw off Duplication nearing the line to score by a neck.
“That wasn’t a bad race and I’d say he’s improving,” stated Marnane. “Mentally I think he will improve further. He may come back here next month for a six-furlong winner’s race and depending on how he gets on there, he could then go to Dubai for the Meydan Classic Trial.”
Henry de Bromhead’s Daybreak Boy (7/1) looked as though he could develop into a nice prospect for 2017 as he made short work of his rivals in the mile maiden. Two months after making an encouraging start to his career at Gowran, the Kingsalsa three-year-old was a commanding four and a half-length winner after Pat Smullen struck for home with over a furlong to run.
“He’s a nice type of horse and he enjoyed the surface. He’ll be a nice horse on good ground on grass next year,” reflected Smullen. “Henry was confident of a good run and he should improve again. He was a bit lonely and green once he hit the front. He shouldn’t have any problem staying further.”
Joseph O’Brien’s Song Of Love (12/1) ended a barren spell stretching back to February 2015 as he pounced late in the mile and a half handicap. The four-year-old lined up here off a rating of 67, having once been as high as 86, and he built on the promise of a close fifth behind Heavy Weight earlier in the month. Song Of Love’s sustained burst on the outer enabled him to edge out Zanjabeel, who looked set to score having deftly threaded his way into the front rank earlier in the straight. Donnacha O’Brien was on board the Annus Mirabilis Syndicate-owned winner.
FIRST SUCCESS
The first division of the 45-65 rated mile handicap provided Cresendo (5/2) with a deserved first career success. The Jackie Bolger-owned colt, who finished second on his last two visits to the track, launched a strong challenge under Kevin Manning entering the last quarter of a mile. It wasn’t long before he hit the front and he went to the line well to finish a length and a half ahead of Tennesse Waltz.
“He finally got his head in front and he deserved that after his last few efforts here. Hopefully he’ll win another provided the handicapper isn’t too hard on him,” stated Jim Bolger’s representative, Ger Flynn.
An industrious winter season for Pat Martin continued in the second divide of the mile handicap where Easy Boy (4/1) prevailed. A patient Conor Hoban produced the four-year-old to head the front running Arbourfield early in the last furlong and Easy Boy finished with one and three-quarter lengths to spare over Teagan Angel.
“He had been working well coming into this. This is his level and it’s not a surprise he’s won like that. He’ll be back here next month,” declared Martin, who trains the winner for his wife Joan.
Apprentice Sean David registered his first triumph of the winter season as he teamed up with Peter Casey’s Chosen Rock (12/1) in the six-furlong handicap. On just the seventh outing of her career, the Intikhab filly answered her rider’s every call over the last furlong and a half to edge out the top-weight, Mo Henry, by a short-head.
ACTING STEWARDS
J. Murphy, A. Byrne, J. Tyrrell, F.G. Fitzsimons, P.W. Murtagh
HORSE TO FOLLOW
DANDY DUDE (K.H. Clarke): This gelding followed a solid run here the previous week with a third to Daybreak Boy in the maiden. There has been promise in his three runs to date and he should be able to make his mark in the next few weeks.