IT was good to see a strong local showing at Downpatrick last Friday and starting as early as the first race, the Toals Bookmaker Maiden Hurdle, which was won by the Keith Donoghue-ridden Fathom Two

The now six-year-old Court Cave bay won a geldings’ maiden at Corbeagh House early last December when trained by Sean McParlan whose son Noel was in the saddle.

Since changing yards to Gavin Cromwell earlier this year, Fathom Two has run in three bumpers and now two hurdle races, four of which have been at Downpatrick.

The gelding still runs in the colours of Newry’s Donal Boyle who bred the winner out of his unraced Beneficial mare Fathom One who comes from the family of Royal Emperor, Kings Valley, Kinloch Brae and Broncho II.

The Toals Bookmaker Rated Novice Hurdle was won by the Jack Kennedy-partnered Ringdufferin who is trained by Gordon Elliott for Alan Dunlop.

The five-year-old home-bred Kalanisi gelding is the fifth of eight foals, but only the second to be named, out of the unraced Jimble mare Inisharoan who comes from the family of Central House, Benatar and Minella Indo.

Also trained in Co Meath, but by Dermot ‘Red’ McLoughlin, the Conor Maxwell-ridden Finnians Row won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase in the colours of local owners, Anne McCartan and Frances Smyth.

Finally, the Caleb and Ezra Starkey INH Flat Race was won in impressive fashion by the Shauna Kelly-owned, Noel Kelly-trained and Óran McGill-ridden Wrecking Ballbilly who had finished second on his two previous starts.

The four-year-old Youmzain gelding is out of the Anshan mare Miss Hilly Wager who won and was placed twice in point-to-points. This is the family of Fairwood Present, Katnap, Tartan Takeover and Lady Rebecca.

Third success

Also on Friday, the David Christie-trained Paidi’s Passion won the mares’ beginners’ chase at Ballinrobe in the hands of Darragh O’Keeffe. This was a third career success for the Sean Duke-owned and bred seven-year-old Ocovango bay who is out of the Beneficial mare Benefitthewest.

On the flat, there were wins for the Andy Oliver-trained, Paul Hardy-owned Bright Stripes at Naas last Thursday week and, on her second start, for the Natalia Lupini-trained, Tracey O’Hare-owned Spanish Rose at Fairyhouse on Monday.

A three-year-old filly by Estidhkaar, Spanish Rose was bred by Steven Clements out of the Pyrus mare Four Kicks who won twice on the flat.

Also on the breeding front, there was a win at Naas last Thursday week for the Stonehthorn Farm-owned and bred two-year-old filly, newcomer Bluedrum (Blue Point – Drumfad Bay, by Acclamation) and at Doncaster on Friday for the McCracken Farms-bred two-year-old filly Circe (Kodiac – Northeast Moon, by Sea The Moon) who was having her second start.

RACING enthusiasts who are parents of pony-riding children have probably resigned themselves to the fact that they will have to miss day one of Fairyhouse’s Winter Festival as Joan Cunningham’s Saintfield Christmas Charity Ride takes place on Saturday, December 1st.

If you are already thinking of Christmas presents and want to push the boat out a bit, Adam’s sale of important Irish art, which takes place on Wednesday next, September 27th, features an oil and canvas painting by the late Basil Blackshaw.

The painting, Seated Figure, from the artist’s estate, has an estimate guide of €10,000 to €15,000.

Presents

Woods Rosbotham and his daughters Barbara and Lisa have already had their Christmas presents following the winning return to action of their Claire Abbott-ridden Jewelent in the CCI3*-S at Lisgarvan House last month and last weekend’s win in the CCI4*-S at Blenheim Palace of the Oliver Townend-partnered Cooley Rosalent.

Jewelent, an 11-year-old grey gelding, and Rosalent, a nine-year-old grey mare, are by the Dutch Warmblood stallion Valent out of the Roselier mare Bellaney Jewel who was bred by Woods and won a point-to-point maiden, two hurdle races and five chases.

She bred two winners on the track, Bellaney Knight (by Marienbard) and Bellaney Gem (by Doyen).