Express books his 2,000 ticket
The Kevin Prendergast trained colt, owned by his breeder Johnny Connaughton, beat his two rivals convincingly, after major market rival Cocozza “sat down” twice in the stalls and was withdrawn.
Having tracked Whipless and Exodus, Declan McDonogh made his move on Dunboyne Express early in the straight and, always travelling better than his rivals, edged ahead at the furlong pole before edging clear to triumph by a length and three-quarters.
Prendergast commented: “He did it well, but it would have been nice if the other horse (Cocozza) ran — we would have learned more. It was a satisfactory performance, but you wouldn’t be raving about it.
“He’s had plenty of problems, including in the lead-up to the Racing Post Trophy last October and after it, when he had colic. But he’s a smart horse and will go straight for the Irish 2,000 Guineas.”
Dunboyne Express was the first leg of a double for Prendergast, completed when seven-year-old Celtic Dane short-headed hot-pot Gimli’s Rock in the ten-furlong Follow Leopardstown on Facebook Handicap, giving apprentice Samantha (Sammy) Bell her first success in the saddle, at only her third attempt.
The Leopardstown 1,000 Guineas Trial went to the Aidan O’Brien trained Empowering, in the colours of the trainer’s wife Ann Marie, and enterprisingly ridden by their son Joseph to land a substantial gamble, having been backed from 12/1 into 11/2.
Empowering made virtually all the running and stayed on strongly up the straight to beat stable-companion Wild Wind by a length and three-quarters, prompting the winning trainer to comment: “She looked a smart filly when she won her maiden in Dundalk last year. She was drawn badly today, but Joseph got her out quickly and did the right thing, letting her bowl along.
“She’s in the English Guineas and might go there, along with the second filly Wild Wind.”
Empowering triumphed despite Joseph O’Brien being unable to claim his 5lb. allowance and carrying 1lb. overweight. The filly’s success also signalled the reduction of his claim to 3lb.
Later, O’Brien was not given clearance by the Stewards to carry 5lb.overweight on Apache in the concluding Leopardstown Leap Maiden, the ride on odds-on favourite being ultimately taken by Colm O’Donoghue.
But the Ballydoyle colt had to play second fiddle to 33/1 newcomer Best Hello, a bargain buy trained by Paul Deegan for Jaber Abdullah, which ran on strongly up the straight to beat the favourite by a length and a half.
Deegan stated: “He’s a smashing staying type of horse. His work last year was good, but he was always going to need time and a trip. Ideally, he wants soft ground so that will be a consideration when we make plans.”
John Oxx and Johnny Murtagh got off the mark for the new season when Mesariya made a successful debut in the opening, ten-furlong fillies maiden.
Despite running green, the Sinndar filly challenged down the outside to beat another newcomer Siren’s Song by a length and quarter with Eva’s Time a similar distance away third.
Oxx commented: “It’s hard to know what to say. But it was probably a good maiden, with a lot of horses fancied. She won well, although Johnny said she’s still pretty green. She holds a number of good entries (Irish 1,000 Guineas and Oaks and English Oaks), but I’m not sure where she’ll go next.”
He added, “It’s hard to know what her best trip will be, because she’s by Sinndar, a definite stamina influence, out of a Cadeaux Genereux mare that won over seven furlongs. We’ll just have to see how and where she goes.”
The Oxx/Murtagh partnership struck again when the 65 rated Halling filly Haziyna bolted up in the Leopardstown Family Fun Racedays Handicap, stretching clear to score by three and a half lengths.
Trainer Andy Oliver, laid low by a virus, was not present to see West Coast Dream make virtually all to land the Leopardstown Music Nights Handicap, keeping Daring Man at bay in a good duel before Northern Rocked and Mountain Coral finished strongly to fill the minor placings.
West Coast Dream, an Oasis Dream gelding which carries the colours of his trainer, was a second winner of the season for last season’s joint-champion apprentice Ben Curtis.
