Saoire gives Crowley a Classic first
Crowley, of course, is the only lady as well to ever land the amateur jockeys’ championship, doing it twice in the 90’s.
Her game-as-a-pebble Saoire, under an inspirational ride from Michael Kinane, battled on powerfully late to beat Pennkenna Princess a short head, with little or nothing covering a wall of horses in the closing stages.
It completed a magnificent afternoon for the husband and wife duo. Earlier in the afternoon Smullen partnered Grey Swallow to take the Group One Tattersalls Gold Cup.
“I can’t believe it”, said Crowley, as tears began to stream down her face. “I was past the line and was sure we were second.
“I was happy with that, but I’m a lot happier now. I knew she had improved an awful lot since Newmarket (English 1000 Guineas.)”
For Crowley it was an amazing outcome, considering she had never even trained a Group winner previously.
Saoire buckled down in fine style in the closing stages, as the runner-up threatened danger all the way to the post.
“She didn’t travel well to Newmarket and we will have to address that if she has to travel again”, said Crowley.
“We have always thought she was more of an Oaks filly. But I’m not sure about Epsom, whether the track would suit. She will definitely run in the Irish Oaks.”
Saoire is owned by Joe Joyce, a builder from Galway. “I am absolutely thrilled for Joe”, said Crowley. “My staff did a great job minding this horse, they worked very hard.”
For Kinane it was a third win in the 1000 Guineas, the others coming on Trusted Partner and Yesterday.
Said Kinane: “I knew stamina wasn’t an issue, I was told she struggled to quicken in the dip at Newmarket. I wanted to be up there and am delighted for Frances, it will launch her career.”
David Wachman’s Luas Line emerged with great credit in third place. This was a smashing seasonal debut and she can only go on from here. Likewise, Dermot Weld’s Utterly Heaven, fresh from winning a moderate maiden, ran a cracker in fourth.
Hot-pot Virginia Waters, however, proved most disappointing. The Newmarket heroine travelled well enough on the heels of the leaders, but found little with over a furlong to run, finishing eighth.
Grey Swallow produced a tremendously gutsy performance to beat Arc winner, Bago, in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. Bago appeared to hit a flat spot approaching the home turn, but rallied strongly in the straight to fail by three parts of a length. Grey Swallow was always going well and Smullen committed him to the front a furlong and a half down.
Bago, Ace and Azamour were soon out after him, but Grey Swallow never flinched, answering every call from his partner.
A delighted Weld said: “That was a brilliant performance and an outstanding ride fom Pat. This was the plan and it was executed to perfection.
“He’s a Derby winner and we decided to put it up to them. He will come on and there’s lots to look forward to. He’s a brave, tough horse.
“We will review the situation now, he could go York or for the King George (Newbury). Perhaps, we will wait for the King George. Later in the season we will decide whether he should have an American or European campaign.”
The Breeders’ Cup at Belmont Park in New York looks a certain target.
Connections of Bago indicated he would now be prepared for a tilt at the King George, while John Oxx seemed visibly disappointed at the defeat of the unlucky-in-running Azamour, who had far from a clear run in the closing stages.
“Mick (Kinane) thought he might have won”, said Oxx. “The hold-up he had didn’t affect him and he will now go for the Prince of Wales at York.”
Ballydoyle’s Scorpion was all the rage for the Airlie Stud Gallinule Stakes, finding 8-11 from evens.
He went down by a short head to English challenger Im Spartacus, however, who was partnered by Jamie Spencer, entitled to allow himself a wry smile!
Im Spartacus mastered front-running Ehsan approaching the final furlong, as Kieren Fallon struggled for an opening and to persuade Scorpion to hit top gear.
The son of Montjeu flew through the last hundred yards, but the post came just in the nick of time for the winner.
“That was magic”, exclaimed trainer, David Flood, enjoying his first Group success. Flood comes from Strokestown, Co Roscommon and is based at Fred Winter’s old yard in Lambourn.
“We will look at everything all over the world”, said Flood. “He’s a horse who only does enough and has improved with every race.”
Those holding ante-post vouchers on Gyspsy King for the Epsom Derby will sleep more soundly after this effort.
Despite running particularly green, the principal Ballydoyle hope beat Im Spartacus on his seasonal debut at Chester.
George Washington was always long odds-on to take the Boylesports’ 1800 221 321 EBF Maiden and the son of Danehill duly outclassed the opposition.
He was somewhat free in the early stages, but Kieren Fallon soon had him in behind horses. Fallon seized an opening about a furlong down and George Washington nipped through in a flash to score unextended by two lengths.
“He is a York possible now”, reported Aidan O’Brien. “Kieren made sure to educate him plenty, he was bumped at Newmarket and got a bit of a fright.”
Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen rounded off an excellent day at the office when Helvetio landed some decent wagers in the boylesports.com Maiden.
Backed from 4-1 to 11-4, the son of Theatrical kicked away early in the striaght and soon had the contest in safe keeping.
“He’s a staying horse and the Queen’s Vase at York is the logical race for him”, reported Weld.
Not many pilots are riding better than Fran Berry and he gave the J P McManus owned and Charles O’Brien trained Baggio a terrific drive to win the Boylesports’.com Handicap.
Berry drove out the well backed 3-1 favourite for all he was worth in the closing stages to beat Toberogan.
