Zarafsha lands gamble in great style
Zarafsha ran no sort of race, struggling from early in the straight, while Hazrista, in contrast, put up a fine performance to sweep clear in the closing stages.
English challenger, Felicity, tried to make all but the winner surged past inside the furlong pole to beat the fast-finishing Cache Creek by an easy two lengths.
"We supplemented her, because she loves fast ground”, said Oxx. "It looks as if she will stay further and the Noblesse Stakes at Naas in June will be next.”
The easy-to-back, Livadiya, proved very disappointing.
She was held up at the back by Jamie Spencer, but didn’t quicken appreciably when asked, just staying on to take fourth.
Wachman’s newcomer Intriguing, backed from a little 6-4 to 4-5, simply toyed with her rivals on the way to landing the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden.
The daughter of Fasliyev was in front from the start for Spencer, easing clear from over a furlong out to score unextended by two and a half lengths.
"She was very green in front and it wasn’t the plan to make the running, but she broke fast”, reported Wachman.
"She will be a lovely filly when going up to seven furlongs. We won’t abuse her through the summer and will find a Group race at the back-end.”
Wachman’s Callow Lake put up a gutsy display to win the ten furlongs Cork Handicap.
On the pace from the start, under Wayne Lordan, Callow Lake kicked early in the straight and showed all the right qualities in the last furlong.
"He’s a good, tough horse”, said Wachman. "He will now go for mile and a half handicaps and we’ll throw in the odd hurdle race. He’ll jump a fence as well.”
The Cashel handler completed his trio of success-stories when Manjoe gave an exhibition of jumping on his way to taking the Fermoy Beginners Chase.
Mark Grant allowed him stride on going to the second and Manjoe made his only error when awkward at the penultimate obstacle.
"He’s a good horse and will run in novice chases through the summer”, said Wachman
Sheer Tenby, who had won half-a-dozen times previously from a mile to a mile and a quarter, showed great pace to outclass his rivals in the six furlongs Ballyclough Handicap.
"Maybe we have been running him over the wrong trip all along”, quipped trainer, Paul Roche.
The blinkered seven-year-old stretched right away for Seamus Heffernan through the last quarter mile to indicate he certainly has a future at this trip.
"He might have a shot at the Scurrys at the Curragh now”, said Roche. Helen Keohane, who rode Lone Plainsman in this contest, was found guilty of riding carelessly by the stewards and suspended for two days. She was also severely cautioned to be more careful in future.
Ruby Walsh journeyed to Cork for just one ride and those who took the hint were rewarded as he partnered Commonchero to land the Carbon Group Handicap Chase. Michael O’Brien’s charge cut little ice behind Say Again at Punchestown, but found this level of competition much more to his liking. Walsh, typically, took his time, before producing Commonchero to cut down long-time leader, Ichi Beau, between the last two fences.
Jessica Harrington’s first-timer, Star Horse, burst clear over two furlongs down to beat What A Benefit cosily in the Bumper.
Conditional jockey Gary Berridge was not allowed to ride at Aintree last evening after failing a breathalyser test after his arrival at the track. Berridge, who is attached to Len Lungo’s yard, was due to ride the Brian Ellison-trained Mister Arjay in the opening Jewson Novices’ Hurdle, but was replaced by Larry McGrath. The horse finished third.
Jockey Club PR director John Maxse said a urine sample would now be sent off for testing “and we will go from there”.
