Mama Jaffa signs off with a win
Berry sent the Charlie Swan-trained mare into the lead with more than half a mile to race and, clear before the straight, she stayed on strongly for a convincing win in the colours of Mrs Karina Healy from Ballingarry, Co Limerick.
This was probably Mama Jaffa’s final race as she is in-foal to Fleminsfirth and will be retired to her owner’s stud.
Another in-foal mare owned in Ballingarry by the Euro Syndicate is the Michael Hourigan-trained Euro Flyer which benefited from a well-judged ride by Ruby Walsh to capture the Poplar Linen Westport Handicap Hurdle.
Hourigan said: “The Minister mentioned earlier at the opening of the new complex that Doran’s Pride won his bumper here. This mare is no Doran’s Pride, but it’s great to win with her. She’s in-foal to Wizard King and will probably have one or two more runs before being retired.”
Pat Smullen, who will ride Helvetio in Sunday’s Budweiser Irish Derby, was on the mark when Tofana, trained by his wife Frances Crowley, ran out a clear-cut victory of the O.W. Construction Handicap. Disputing the lead when nearest rival Nathan Jones ran off the second-last bend, Tofana triumphed by four lengths to bring Smullen’s seasonal tally to 28, six behind trailblazing Fran Berry.
Smullen was out of luck in the later Lynam Merit Maiden when his mount Max Almighty was out-pointed inside the final furlong by the Kevin Prendergast-trained Camouflage, a 19th winner of the season for Declan McDonogh, which had to survive a steward’s inquiry.
Jim Culloty arrived late for his mount in the opener but savoured his first success on the track, and only his second in the colours of J.P. McManus, when Monjoyau, trained by Edward O’Grady, landed the Murphys Newsagents and Jewellers Beginners Chase. The 6/1 winner drew clear on the run-in to beat Camdengreenmachine but the outcome might have been different had third-placed Kelly’s Craft not blundered badly at the third last fence.
The McManus colours were also successful in the Mayo News Handicap Hurdle, but he had to settle for only half of the spoils as his Team Allstar dead-heated with Shannon Ranger.
