Wachman left purring after Meow stroll
The most informative, with the future in mind, was Meow in the ITBA Southern Region Supporting Irish Breeders’ Maiden.
Well touted on her debut at Dundalk, the daughter of Storm Cat went under by a short head to the durable Moment Of Weakness.
She made no mistake here, bouncing away in front and coasting home seven lengths to the good over the Ballydoyle newcomer, Queen Of Spain.
Trainer, David Wachman, said: “She’s nice and very fast and just got tired at Dundalk. She will head off to the Queen Mary (Royal Ascot) now.”
Aidan O’Brien’s long odds-on Eskimo (Murtagh) enjoyed little more than an exercise canter to take the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden.
The son of Galileo made most of the running and was well in control when again showing signs of temperament – as on his debut at Gowran Park – jinking slightly inside the furlong pole.
O’Brien wasn’t at the meeting, but there seems little doubt their are many better juveniles housed at Ballydoyle than this fellow.
Murtagh guided Eddie Lynam’s Jembatt to an easy success in the ITBA Working For Irish Breeders’ Maiden.
The Captain Rio gelding had proved very disappointing at Dundalk previously, but was much better here.
He eased ahead two furlongs down and soon scampered right away from Mutamaleq to score by five and a half lengths. The stewards inquired into the performance of third placed Ballyronan Boy, trained by Michael Connell.
They decided the racecourse had been used as a training ground and fined Connell €1,500. Rider, Ronan Whelan, was done for insufficient effort and suspended for seven days and ordered to forfeit his riding fee. Ballyronan Boy was suspended for 60 days.
The handicapper could allow himself a little smile after Ghetto Gospel had streaked away with the ITBA Supporting Regional Racetracks Handicap.
After Ger Lyons’ gelding had won at Navan last Sunday, he went up 12lbs. But the three-year-old was able to run here under a mandatory 5lbs penalty, so had a theoretical 7lbs in hand.
That could hardly have been more accurate, as Keagan Latham set him alight under two furlongs down to win pulling up by three lengths.
Lyons was represented by his brother, Shane, who said: “We had to run him tonight and he will now go back to Navan for his next race.”
The layers got a decent result when Oneeightofamile, evens to 4-5, could not hold 10-1 shot Keep It Cool in the Sean Barrett Bloodscotck Insurances Race.
Pat Smullen forced the favourite ahead early in the straight, but Fran Berry got an excellent response from Keep It Cool, who forged on inside the final furlong.
Back in third was the long-absent Cloone Rocket, who ran on nicely from the back, giving promise of better to come!
Berry was good on Keep It Cool, but even better aboard John Oxx’s hot-pot Alaia in the ITBA Southern Region Members’ Having Fun At The Races Maiden.
He made his move early in the straight and though Johnny Murtagh and Seven Summits were soon after him, Alaia was not for passing and was a neck to the good at the line.
Slim O’Neill did the honours for Oxx and reported: “She will get a mile and a half in time and will now go for a handicap.”
David Marnane and Colm O’Donoghue are a potent combination when teaming up and they were on the mark again when Empirico took the five furlongs ITBA Racing Club Handicap.
O’Donoghue rode a powerful finish to bring Empirico with a flying late surge and grab the flattering Fairy Flow well inside the final furlong.
There was a stewards’ inquiry, with O’Donogue found guilty of careless riding and suspended for one day.
