Music hits winning note for Mangan

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

“Mr Weld’s horses are flying, he’d win with a donkey this week,” joked Jane Mangan, after she had guided Rosewell House’s Midnight Music to victory in the Carlton Hotel Handicap at Galway last night.

In doing so she became the first lady rider to win this race.

Jane, 18-year-old daughter of trainer, Jimmy Mangan, has made a huge impact since bursting on the scene and this was further evidence Weld has as good an eye for up-and-coming young pilots as he has for horses.

Said Jane, enjoying her eighth on the track: “I was delighted to get the call from Mr Weld’s office. This is my first festival winner and my first ride for Mr Weld.

“She travelled like a dream throughout, the one worry was whether she’d stay. I tracked Clarach and then gave her a shake of the reins and away she went.

“My father won the Plate here with Stroll Home (1997) and we have watched that race many times. This is another race we will be watching.”

Clarach looked all over a winner when cruising into the lead coming to the home turn. But Ms Mangan’s timing was utterly precise and, despite losing her whip with a furlong to go, Midnight Music quickened impressively and was in total control through the final furlongs.

Commented Weld: “I tend to pick my jockeys well, she rode the mare to absolute perfection.

“We spoke about the race and the doubt was whether Midnight Music would get two miles. Jane waited, counted to five and then went.

“There is great credit due to her, she rode like a professional. Her father and my mother are great friends, she comes from a wonderful Cork family.”

For Weld it was a seventh success in the contest as a trainer, to go with the four times he won it as a jockey.

Midnight Music was one of three winners on the night for Weld, having started with Train Of thought in the opening radissonhotel.com Novice Hurdle. Ruby Walsh, riding at the festival for the first time since 2009, was in the plate.

Train Of Thought has never looked the most generous on the flat, but the maestro, of course, knew exactly what was required.

Walsh soon had him bowling along in front, made his move going to the second last and the only possible danger was removed when Sonapour took a fatal fall at the flight.

Said Weld: “That was star-studded by Ruby, he rode him as if he was a handicapper. The horse knew his job and, all being well, will come back here on Saturday for a mile and a half handicap.”

Weld’s next trick was to turn over the Ballydoyle hot-pot, Line Drummer, with Thunder Mountain in the claregalwayhotel.ie Maiden.

This son of Elnadim had shown nothing on his debut at the Curragh in May, but gelded and given the Weld Ballybrit preparation was a totally different horse.

He had Line Drummer in trouble approaching the home turn and forged away on the flat to score by four and a half lengths, with Don’t Bother Me grabbing second close home.

“That was a lovely, tactical ride by Pat (Smullen),” said Weld. “The horse leans a bit to the right and being drawn one was an advantage, but he’s done it well. He was gelded, which helped him to concentrate on being a racehorse.”

Kallellshan, successful twice at the meeting two years earlier for Charles Byrnes, again showed his liking for the track when taking the HotelMeyrick.ie Handicap Hurdle.

In doing so he foiled a fair old gamble on Noel Meade’s Maxim Gorky, taken from 11-2 to 3-1 favouritism.

The winner made all of the running and, though Maxim Gorky appeared to have him covered heading down into the dip, Kalellshan pulled out plenty and was an easy five lengths to the good at the line.

The nine-year-old is now in the care of Denis Hogan, who said: “Mark (Enright) was super and is great value for 7lbs.

“My heart was going 110 miles an hour. I love training and riding, but got some kick out of that.

“He’s unlikely to get into the hurdle here on Thursday, even with a penalty, but is in over two and a half on Wednesday, so we’ll see how he is.”

Michael Halford’s imposing Sure Reef was very impressive in making virtually all the running to easily land the Galway Oyster Hotel Handicap.

“I have finally found his trip, he has been a big baby,” reported Halford. “He is a lovely big genuine horse.

“He will get an entry back here on Sunday, so we’ll see, but won’t be greedy, as he has had plenty of racing of late.”

The Weld bandwagon was expected to roll on in the Bumper, but his odds-on favourite, Silver Concorde, proved no match for Jim Bolger’s Cul Baire.

Carrying the colours of Bolger’s daughter, Una Manning, and beautifully handled by Patrick Mullins, the King’s Best gelding surged ahead off the home turn to win going away by seven lengths. It was the first time Mullins had ridden for Bolger.

Ronan Whelan, a jockey almost certainly destined for the top, was superb aboard Kanes Pass in the claytonhotelgalway.ie Handicap.

Whelan produced Kanes Pass early in the straight and Willie McCreery’s filly soon shot clear.

* The attendance was 17,710, marginally up on last year’s 17,570.

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