Vinthea overcomes bad draw to land the McDonogh spoils
The daughter of Barathea had finished fourth at Royal Ascot previously in a contest which has worked out astonishingly well.
The second and third went on to score and the fifth, Desert Alchemy, landed a Listed race at Goodwood yesterday.
Vinthea was gradually worked into the contest by Houlihan, as English invader Bouncing Bowdler tried to make all. The winner got a dream run up the inside approaching the home turn and was in front in a matter of strides.
Desert Trail ran off the bend and though rallying well through the final furlong was still a length adrift at the line.
The progressive Vinthea is owned by Castlelyons businessman, Colman O’Flynn, and will now be given an entry in the Matron Stakes at the Curragh. Commented winning trainer, James Burns: “It’s a great thrill, the Ascot form has worked out so well that I thought it would take a very good horse to give her weight.
“Timmy gave her a smashing ride and is excellent value for 5lbs. I had him primed up, we went into the race in detail.
“She’s no Vintage Crop, but is a very tough filly. I trained the dam (Vintage Escape) for the O’Flynns, they have been great supporters.’’
Dermot Weld had a bad day at the office on Monday, but you can’t keep a good man down for long and he had the layers spinning following the victory of Mutakarrim in the Albatros Feeds Maiden Hurdle.
Mutakarrim was hammered in the ring from 5-4 to 8-11 and did the business in style by an easy eight lengths.
He travelled sweetly throughout for Barry Geraghty and it was bar a fall once allowed lead over the second from home.
Said Weld: “As long as there is no excessive rain he will come back here on Thursday for the Galway Hurdle.
“He’s a good horse and did it accordingly. Barry doesn’t know if he will be able to ride on Thursday.’’
Charles Byrnes’ well backed Barrow Drive, despite some scary moments, ran away with the Albatros Plant Nutrition Chase. He made every yard of the running, surviving near-disastrous blunders five out and at the fourth last.
When he was good, however, he was really good and was quite brilliant over the third last.
Valley Erne flattered when trying to close heading to the penultimate fence, but Philip O’Brien had saved loads and Barrow Drive was soon in total control.
Said Byrnes: “He’s a lovely horse to train, but a head-case and a dodgy jumper.
“He will probably go to Tralee next and I’d imagine will then head for the Kerry National at Listowel.’’
Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning continued their terrific run when the relatively experienced Feabhas battled on bravely to take the McDonogh Feeds Fillies Maiden.
She got to the front turning in and was always holding the persistent challenge of Il Na Cullin in the closing stages.
Unlucky horse of the contest was John Oxx’s newcomer, Canouan. She was full of running entering the final furlong, but had nowhere to go and Johnny Murtagh soon accepted the situation.
The inevitable stewards’ inquiry was called, but no alteration to the placings was the verdict, as expected.
Michael Kinane, who used to be the king of Galway when first jockey to Dermot Weld, rode his first of the week when powering Paddy Mullins’ Ulysees to success in the McDonogh Style Concepts Maiden.
Blatant was all the rage in the ring, but the Johnny Murtagh partnered/John Oxx trained newcomer could never get to grips with Ulysees through the final furlong.
“He was gelded in the spring on the recommendation of Murtagh’’, reported Mullins.
“I wonder would he come and ride for me instead of A P (O’Brien)’’, quipped Michael Hourigan after Kinane completed a double aboard the trainer’s Discerning Air in the McDonogh Builders Trade Centre Handicap.
Discerning Air, in foal to Supreme Leader, produced a tremendous performance to defy 10-0, cruising into the lead early in the straight to land a real touch, 8-1 to 7-2. “She’s likely to turn out again later in the week and that will be her last run’’, said Hourigan.
Kinane’s tally for the campaign now stands at 48, 14 clear of Pat Smullen, and he will return to Galway on Friday night, following two days at Goodwood.
