Spencer celebrates jockeys title success with double
Showing no ill-effects of his through-the-night trip from the Breeders Cup meeting in Dallas, Spencer brought his domestic tally to 93 with victories on the two Sadler’s Wells colts trained by Aidan O’Brien, who has remained in America for a short family holiday.
Debutant Gypsy King overcame his inexperience to justify 4/9 favouritism in the opening seven-furlong maiden, edging ahead at the furlong-pole to beat Bogside Dancer comfortably by a length and a half.
This smooth debut success earned Gypsy King a 40/1 quote from Cashmans (33/1 with Ladbrokes) for the 2005 Epsom Derby.
And the Cork firm later offered 25/1 about Yehudi after he completed the Ballydoyle double in the listed Eyrefield Stakes over nine furlongs.
Spencer had this recent Navan maiden winner in front, or disputing the lead, throughout before forging clear two furlongs out. And he never looked in danger as chief market-rival Imperial Brief flattered briefly before being beaten three lengths.
Yehudi galloped to the line, despite drifting right close home and was described as “a nice staying prospect” by Spencer.
Trainer Peter Casey reached a notable milestone when Fearn Royal made all under Colm O’Donoghue to slam her rivals in the listed Knockaire Stakes.
Fearn Royal’s victory, Casey’s tenth of the season, sent her trainer’s prizemoney haul for 2004 through the 300,000 mark.
Fran Berry, who will get married next Thursday, ended a magnificent season with a sparkling treble, highlighted by the victory of the John Queally-trained Al Eile in the Leopardstown November Handicap.
Raised 14lb. after his easy win on the track on Monday, Al Eile completed a quick hat-trick in great style, coming from well of the pace before storming clear to beat Coquette Rouge and favourite Rosaker.
Trainer Queally explained: “I told Fran to ride him like Nijinsky and he did. He's a much stronger horse than last season and I’m not sure where he’ll go next.”
“I’ve had the ‘Fighting Fifth’ at Newcastle in mind for him, or a trip to the ‘Open’ meeting at Cheltenham in two weeks. Or, if he doesn’t run in either place, I’ll keep him for the Christmas meeting here.”
Berry followed-up when partnering the Harry Rogers-trained Fit The Cove to an all-the-way win in the one-mile Carmanhall Handicap.
Brendan Smith’s gelding was notching his fifth win of the season and held the late challenge of Peineve, ridden by Cathy Gannon who, with 33 wins to her credit, was crowned Champion Apprentice for 2004, the first female to achieve that honour.
Berry rounded off a superb season when Power Elite, his last mount of the campaign, cruised to a ten lengths win in the Heather Road Race.
Power Elite was Berry’s 66th winner of the season, which saw him edge past Pat Smullen to finish runner-up to Spencer in the championship race.
Trainer Noel Meade is likely to resist the temptation to run in the valuable Stanleybet Handicap Hurdle at Down Royal next Saturday in favour of a similar event on the Sunday of Cheltenham’s ‘Open’ meeting.
Leopardstown’s Pierse Hurdle remains a longer-term target in January.
Joanna Morgan has worked wonders with Lough Gen, which became only the second two-year-old in Ireland to win four races this season.
Ridden by regular partner Rory Cleary, Lough Gem, 25lb. higher than his original winning mark, eased through on the inside at the furlong pole to beat All Woman in the premier nursery, giving Cleary his 29th win of the campaign.
