Kickham back on track after hard earned victory
Given an excellent ride by Norman Williamson, who played a waiting game, the seven year-old was in a handy position on the opening circuit as Abbeyfeale Con cut out the running. Manjoe took over in front after jumping the fourth last and pulled out a good four length advantage before turning for home. But the five year old, seeking his third success in a row, began to fade coming to the last. Kickham jumped the flight marginally in front and then held on gamely to win by a length with Rapide Plaisir a head further back in third place.
“He’s in Listowel next week but I will have to talk to connections about him. I would prefer to run him in the two mile hurdle here next month. He is quite a tough character” said Eddie O’Grady.
The training honours of the afternoon went to John Oxx, who completed a double. He won the opening Irish Stallions Farm EBF Maiden with Opera Comique, ridden by Fran Berry, and went on to take the William Fry Solicitors Maiden over a mile and a half with Vintage Port, the mount of Johnny Murtagh.
Opera Comique was 3/1 second favourite in a race in which the Aidan O’Brien trained newcomer Mikado was the 2/5 favourite. The first two were held up as Rhapsody Rose made the running in the nine furlong event and they battled it out from a little over a furlong down with Opera Comique finishing the stronger to win by a length and a half. “The filly will get a mile and a half next year and may have one more race when we drop her back to a mile this season” said Jimmy O’Neill, Oxx’s assistant trainer.
Vintage Port started the 11/10 favourite in the William Fry Solicitors Maiden Stakes and taking the lead on settling down was always in command, pulling away in the closing stages to win by three and a half lengths from Farthingale. “The ground at Tralee was a bit too firm for him and he was much happier on the easier ground today. We will find a nice handicap for him” said Jimmy O’Neill.
One of the most impressive winners of the afternoon was the Aidan O’Brien trained Michael Kinane ridden Cornwall in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over seven furlongs. Taking the lead from the start the Danehill colt controlled the race from the start and pulled away in the closing stages to win more readily than the five lengths he had to spare over Life Class would suggest.
“His breeder (Jim Bolger) liked him a lot and I did not disagree with him. He is a big colt and there’s no panic with him” said O’Brien.
Blue Crush, who won here over the minimum trip at the last meeting, repeated the performance in the Davin Arms Nursery over the minimum trip in the hands of Billie Lee. Smartly away she made all the running to score by three lengths from Antigone. “I may run her in a listed race here next month” said trainer Edward Lynam.
Taking up the running a furlong and a half down in the other five furlong event, the Stone Thrower Handicap, Tigim, the mount of Pat Cosgrave, raced clear to score by two and a half lengths from favourite Miss Curly and set a new track record for the distance.
Curragh trainer Peter Henley, having a fifth success of the season, said “He is getting better and better and bigger and stronger. We will try and find another handicap for him” commented the trainer.
