Tuesday, August 31, 2010
RAJIK completed a hat-trick when producing a gutsy performance in the listed Ardilaun Hotel Oyster Stakes at Galway yesterday, getting up close home to foil fellow joint-favourite Address Unknown by a head.
Having tracked the leaders, the Charlie Swan-trained five-year-old was scrubbed along in the dip and needed a power-packed ride from Declan McDonogh to collar the Pat Smullen-ridden frontrunner, to which the winner was conceding 16lb. including a listed penalty earned at the Curragh recently.
Swan was understandably delighted by Rajik’s victory and said "He’s a tough little devil and battled hard all the way up the hill. I was considering the Doncaster Cup for him, but it’s less than two weeks away and he’s had hard races at the Curragh and again today."
McDonogh was seen in equally determined mood on board the Mick Mulvany-trained The Silver Crown which, similarly, swooped late to beat Snap Alam in the opening James P Cunningham Electrical Handicap.
The tough Verglas filly was bouncing back from a disappointment at Roscommon, where she unseated Gary Carroll soon after leaving the stalls.
The rest of the evening belonged to champion jockey Johnny Murtagh, who bounced back from his Moyglare disappointment at the Curragh on Sunday to complete a fine treble on Prospectorous, Treasure Beach and Clearwater Bay.
Treasure Beach came with a storming late challenge to catch front-running top-weight Suntan in the premier nursery.
The Galileo colt, carrying Derrick Smith’s colours and trained by Aidan O’Brien, was following-up a maiden success at Gowran Park and "could be a nice prospect for nest season," according to his rider.
Murtagh had kicked off when guiding Prospectorous, trained by Philip Dempsey for the Pride & Soul Racing Syndicate, to a convincing all-the-way victory over Boynagh Joy in the Trappers inn Handicap.
"That was a great ride by Johnny," said winning trainer Philip Dempsey. "He’s the fourth champion to win on the horse, following Michael Kinane, Ruby Walsh and Tony McCoy".
And Murtagh completed a memorable evening when Clearwater Bay, beaten by a less-fancied stable-companion on his debut at Dundalk, justified 1/3 favouritism in the finale, the Henderson Hypnosis Maiden over a mile and a half.
Having tracked Perfect Gemstone, the Sadler's Wells colt needed a few reminders to wake him up with a half-mile to race, eased past the front-runner turning for home before drawing clear to triumph by eight lengths.
Few meetings take place in Ballybrit without a Dermot Weld-trained winner. And Manacor, in the colours of Dr. Ronan Lambe, triumphed for Rosewell House in the four-runner Donnelly’s Of Bearna 2-Y-0 Auction Maiden, getting the better of recent Sligo winner Deorai inside the final furlong to win by a length and a half.
The quirky, Bill Fitzpatrick-trained Alajan was given a tremendous, sympathetic ride by local lad Leigh Roche to foil gambled-on favourite Wee Giant in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap.
Eddie Linehan made his move on the 2/1 favourite approaching the straight. But Roche, travelling strongly on 20/1 shot Alajan, had the move covered and eased his mount into the lead inside the final furlong to gain an elusive win, under hands and heels riding.
Meanwhile, at Downpatrick, Imperial Shabra, no match for the smart One Cool Tornado in Galway on Saturday, bounced back to land the featured Downpatrick Racecourse Aiming To Succeed Novice Hurdle .
Having brushed aside the challenge of favourite Hail Caesar, the Oliver Brady-trained gelding forged clear under Mattie Bowes to beat Fleeting Moment by seven lengths.
Gordon Elliott brought his tally for the jumps season to 46 (28 in Ireland, 18 in Britain) thanks to a double, initiated when Boragh Princess landed the Lori Moore, Miss Northern Ireland Mares Maiden Hurdle under an inspired ride by Paul Carberry.
Apparently struggling and under strong driving by Carberry before the third last flight, the 11/8 was on and off the bridle from that point before being galvanised by her in-form rider on the run-in to get the better of Shabra Charity (trained by Oliver Brady) by a neck.
Carberry and Elliott struck again when Tarkari, having his second run for the stable, defied top-weight in the Willie Murophy Jewellers Downpatrick Handicap Hurdle proving too strong for course specialist Mcswynes Bay.
Claimer Andrew Thornton notched his second success wince breaking his nose in a fall at Bellewstown last week when Kaiser So Say proved a shock 16.1 winner of the opening Down District Counciul Ladies Day At Downpatrick Maiden Hurdle.
Making his debut for Andy Heffernan, the Kahyasi gelding swept past favourite Golan Guy at the final hurdle before stretching clear to score emphatically by eleven lengths.
Odds-on punters had more than a few anxious moments before Davy Russell got Excellent As Usual home a narrow winner over Lets Go Sunshine in the Fran Murrin Memorial Maiden Hurdle, the seven-year-old making it third time lucky in recent maiden hurdles over course and distance.
The 4/6 favourite dictated the pace until early on the final circuit, tracked the leaders and was challenging when fluffing the second last obstacle. Then, having edged ahead, he stumbled early on the run-in before battling to triumph by three-quarters of a length.
Excellent Au Usual is trained by Garrett Power, who intends sending the seven-year-old over fences.
Michael Hogan, who trains a small string near Toomevara, County Tipperary, enjoyed a welcome change of luck when Mountain Heather, ridden by Andrew McNamara, made all to win the Win A Diamond Ring Today Handicap Hurdle at the expense of Ringfort.
The bumper, confined to lady riders, produced a major shock when 20/1 newcomer Bandra Bullet, trained by John McConnell and ridden by Lisa O'Neill, proved too strong for the Pauline Ryan-ridden Ta Blazes.
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