Bookies add financial clout to Tralee campaign
As well as that the plan, formulated by the Save Tralee Racecourse Committee, was put in the post yesterday and should be on the desks of the fifty shareholders this morning.
Meanwhile King Carew, trained by Michael Hourigan and ridden by his daughter, Laura, turned in an extraordinary display to win the Denny Havasnack Race, before an attendance of 5,200.
Equally extraordinary was the performance of some of the jockeys who had a remote view of the all-the-way winner throughout.
King Carew held a huge lead for practically all of the journey. A measure of just how far in front he was came at the five furlong pole.
As he passed under it the rest of the field, headed by Masteroffoxhounds, were in the vicinty of the six furlong marker. Unless, King Carew folded completely, he was never going to come back. And he didn’t, crossing the line 25 lengths in front of Masteroffoxhounds.
King Carew, of course, was the horse who gave Timmy Murphy the most dreadful fall at the second last at the Galway Festival.
Said Hourigan: “I didn’t want to put him back over fences straight away. The plan today was just to give him a spin round as a confidence booster.
I didn’t think he’d win. He will now have a run over hurdles and then go back over fences.”
Amazingly, the stewards didn’t think it worthwhile to at least go through the motions and ask a question, or two.
Colonel Bradley, trained by Charlie Swan for J P McManus, produced a fine exhibition, for a novice, to land the Denny Gold Medal Handicap Chase.
The front-running Cloudy Bays attacked his fences with gusto, but mistakes four out and at the third last inevitably took their toll.
Colonel Bradley led at the third from home and made the rest to score comfortably for Norman Williamson.
“He’s been plagued with injuries and broke down twice”, reported Swan. “I’ve entered him in the Kerry National, but he will only go there if getting fast ground.”
Paul Carberry, who rode Fnan in this race, was hit in the face by the horse’s head and was stood down until Saturday with minor concussion.
Dermot Weld enjoyed his fourth success of the week when newcomer, Noahs Ark, streaked away with the Tattersalls Ireland Median Auction Maiden.
It wasn’t a contest which took much winning, but the winner could do no more than ease to the front over a furlong out and then quicken clear.
Mark Weld, representing his father, commented: “I’ve just been on to the boss and he is delighted with that and hopes she will develop into a stakes filly.
“She has been in Rathbride (Weld’s second yard) and came across to Roswell House last week. She has only been in training a short time and that was a good performance.”
Clare Rose, a winner in testing conditions at Killarney, showed she handles any sort of surface when taking the Australian Jockey Club Handicap.
Tus Maith looked all over a winner when leading before the furlong pole, but Clare Rose responded well for Pat Shanahan to sweep past close home.
Commented trainer, Pat Carey: “She is holding her form well and is better on this type of ground. She will probably go to Limerick next Wednesday now.”
Jim Bolger, who trains Tus Maith, soon gained compensation when Glimmer Twin outbattled Darghan in the Giles and Co Auctioneers’ Maiden.
Darghan was backed from 5-4 to 4-5 and tried to make all. The winner, however, took him on from the final bend and was always getting the better of the tussle in the final furlong. Said Bolger: “We will attempt to get some black type for her, but it won’t be easy.”
Gareth Power, he also rode the horse, saddled his first winner as a trainer when Arctic Passge got the best of a tough tussle with Ballygill Heights from the last flight in the Tom McGiff Plumbing Maiden Hurdle.
Power has six horses in his care at Windgap, Co Kilkenny and has now lost the right to claim 7lbs.
There was some close riding in the vicinty of the last and a stewards’ inquiry was soon called. The result was never going to be changed, but Power was suspended for one day for carelsss riding.
Tony Mullins’ Electric Flower was always an odds-on chance in the Ballygarry House Hotel Maiden Hurdle, but proved no match for Moscow Exchange.
The market leader led turning in, but had no more to offer once Mark Grant sent the winner past two out.
Newlands stayed on late to grab the flattering Allstar Rose in the Bank Of Ireland Handicap Hurdle.
