Improving Caradak steps up in style

CARADAK stepped up from maiden company to Listed class in style when landing the King Charlemagne Stakes at Cork yesterday.

Very impressive when scoring at Galway, John Oxx’s colt proved far too good for odds-on favourite, One More Round, showing much the greater resolution in the closing stages.

One More Round eased on with less than two furlongs to travel, but Michael Kinane was soon challenging on the winner and it was Caradak who held all the aces in the closing stages.

Said Oxx: “He has made some progress in a few weeks. He’s a gross horse, who needed a few runs to get him tuned in. We will see if he will improve some more.”

The other Listed event on the programme saw Michael Grassick’s four-year-old, My Renee, put up a fine performance to beat Tarakala a neck.

Niall McCullagh drove the winner ahead over a furlong down and My Renee battled on strongly to resist the persistent effort of the runner-up.

Grassick wasn’t at the meeting, but considering it was only the filly’s second run of the campaign one can envisage this progressive sort stepping up on this display.

Luas Line, the medium of upbeat reports before disappointing on her debut at Leopardstown, toyed with the opposition in the Mull Of Kintyre EBF Maiden.

Backed from 4-6 to 2-5, the daughter of Danehill was in charge fully four furlongs from home and Jamie Spencer was able to sit motionless literally from that point.

Said trainer, David Wachman: “I hold her in very high regard and blame myself for Leopardstown, I shouldn’t have started her off in that race.

“She is in everything, but don’t be surprised if she runs in the Dubutante Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.”

Soliza looked an unlucky loser of the opening Choisir EBF Fillies Handicap. She found it hard to get a clear run in the straight and the bird had flown when finally extricated by Pat Shanahan.

That particular bird was Declan Gillespie’s Tequise, who quickened well for Jamie Spencer from the furlong pole.

An objection was lodged by the second to the winner, but looked optimistic in the extreme and was overruled.

Indeed, Shanahan, after viewing the video, asked if he could withdraw the objection, as he had confused the placings.

Said Gillespie: “The second was probably a bit unlucky, but my filly did it well. I didn’t think she would handle ground as fast as that.”

Andrew McNamara rode his fourth winner since turning professional aboard Cherry Valley in the Turtle Island Maiden Hurdle.

A returned price of 7-4 was very tasty, after market rival, High Gear, became all the rage in the ring, 4-5 from 7-4.

On the course, however, it was no contest. Cherry Valley made all, galloping her rivals silly to score by an unflattering 25 lengths.

“She was crying out for three miles”, reported McNamara.

Keith Hogan enjoyed a welcome turn when sending Dego Dante ahead two out to beat Scarteen Court in the Bach Handicap Hurdle.

Dego Dante was giving Newmarket-On-Fergus trainer, Aengus King, his first winner. King has held a licence for two years and this fellow is his only horse for the track at the moment.

Uneasy favourite, Almier, briefly threatened when ranging up behind the leaders off the home turn, but was beaten at the third last.

Almier’s rider, Mark Walsh, subsequently reported that his charge hung throughout.

The Bumper was as poor a race of its type as you could get, but Valley Ger could do no more than canter into the lead a furlong and a half down to beat Royalette.