Sweet Afton smokes out rivals for all the way success
The daughter of Mujadil easily won the Mallow Median Auction Maiden at Cork last night, in the hands of Michael Kinane.
She was out and away from stalls like a shot and Kinane only had to push her out in the closing stages to beat Seven Gold Rings a comfortable two lengths.
Tyrrell was represnted by his assistant, former jockey Paul Coyle, who said: “Michael was delighted with her and the plan now is get some black type.”
Sweet Afton was always odds-on at the track, but taken as high as 5-4 in the morning in the offices.
The Cork Racecourse Mallow BBQ Maiden looked a match between Who Could Tell and Jubilant Note, but the layers almost got a screamer. Kinane, initiating a double, pushed Who Can Tell past front-running Jubilant Note inside the furlong pole and it looked to be plain sailing.
But both Marias Dream and The Carbon Unit flashed through late and the post came just in time for the favourite.
Former Kilkenny hurler Kieran Purcell, who has three All-Ireland medals to his credit, took out a licence to train a year and a half ago and he saddled his second winner when Fergus Vale easily landed the Excellent Choice Maiden Hurdle.
The uneasy market-leader picked it up for Paul Carberry going to four out and crossed the line five lengths to the good, with plenty more in the locker.
For Carberry, it was a first winner since his return from a seven week break with a broken collar-bone.
“This is a fine big horse and chasing will be his game”, remarked Purcell.
Tim Doyle's consistent filly Night Delight got back on the winning trail with a game performance to take the Ballyclough Handicap. Very well handled by Chris Hayes, Night Delight was in front over two furlongs out and held on well close home to beat the fast-finishing Scripted.
“She is in foal to Mull Of Kintyre and only has about a month left”, reported Doyle. “She will go for the Rockingham at the Curragh next weekend, if getting in.”
The James Motherway trained Missed Trip was impressive in the Goggin and Buckley Mares Handicap Hurdle She got an excellent drive from Robbie Colgan, tracking the leaders until asked to ease to the front at the third last.
The mare made a slight error at the next, but it made no difference and Colgan didn't have to be hard on her to score by two and a half lengths.
“We will have to think about Galway now”, said Motherway. “She's in at Killarney and maybe that's a possibility, we will see what the handicapper does.”
Brian Byrnes forced Danny O'Connell's Temporary Setback up for a last-gasp short head defeat of Victory Run in the Sand and Gravel Products Maiden Hurdle. Successful in a point at Dromahane, the daughter of Moonax is destined for a career as a chaser.
Said O'Connell: “She has a very good pedigree and Merry Gale and Brave Inca are in her family. She will go over fences sooner rather than later.”
Nina Carberry powered Gunnison to the front a furlong out to beat Carthalawn in the Bumper. The latter started favourite, but just as at Limerick on his debut, he travelled well through the contest, before finding little when let down.
