Windgates King Koal ‘as good as ever’ in winning grand prix
The 15-year-old bay gelding was close to death in June and had to undergo two operations for colic. Yesterday, however, he showed no ill-effects when taking the top prize in the €10,000 competition.
“I’m thrilled. It’s my first show trying to do anything with him and he felt as good as ever,” said the Co Down rider. The win was also notable. It was 12 months to the day that the pairing claimed the grand prix in Zuidlaren, The Netherlands. The top 10 riders went through to the jump-off in yesterday’s feature class.
Last to go, Swail crossed the finish line in 34.50 seconds, demolishing the 37.41 target set by Richie Moloney (Appolinaire), with Edward Doyle (Effective) third in 37.87.
“I knew if I left the jumps up he would win,” said Swail, who earlier had shown his paces by placing first, third and fourth in the day’s speed class with Windgates Mystery, Windgates Cruiseway and Windgates Sensation, respectively.
Francis Connors placed second with Noel C Duggan’s Millstreet Miss to deny Swail a clean sweep.
Gabriel Slattery and Welcome Captain were without equal when winning yesterday’s Lee Strand Dairies Final for five-year-olds.
Having won the two qualifiers, the Claremorris rider was tipped to make it a hat-trick. The favourite’s tag was well justified, with Slattery and the Captain Clover gelding uncompromising in tackling the jump-off course.
First to go, Slattery and his Boomerang winner gained the advantage when a tight turn to the last saw them cross the line in 36.89 seconds.
Only Eddie Moloney and Ballinclover Boy came close to picking up the gauntlet, finishing in 37.55.
Clonakilty rider Derry Kingston and Ole Gunner provided the only other clear round to take third. Kudos, with Conor Swail on board, were expected to be the main opposition for Slattery, but finished the best of the four-faulters to take fourth place.
Tom Slattery and the Rakish Paddy gelding My Irish Paddy grabbed a notable double on Saturday, winning the 1.30m final and returning that evening to take the Calor Gas Speed Derby.
The pairing were superb in the latter coming home almost a second-and -a-half to the good over Joan Greene (Sceal Eile), with Kerrygold League champion Peter Smyth over eight seconds back in third. Slattery added to his tally when winning the 1.20m final on Betty Murphy’s Chikiara.
Thirteen qualified to do battle with the clock in Saturday night’s Dairygold Indoor Derby, though there was nothing unlucky about it for Shane Breen. The Cashel rider put his name alongside no less than three of these, the fastest proving to be Luandra.
The Furore-sired 10-year-old mare carried Breen across the finish line in 34.57 seconds to give him the lion’s share of the €6,000 prizemoney. He also picked up some loose change when fourth on World Cruise behind Eddie Moloney (Kilmoylan Warrier) and Ronan Clarke (Athletico 26), second and third respectively.
Meanwhile, Irish riders were on form on the Continent yesterday, with Marion Hughes (Oh Jessie) and Peter Charles (it’s Magic Max) both winning in Liege, Belgium.
