Timely boost for Oxx
And the Breeders Cup connection was strong in the opener as Lifetime Romance is a grand-daughter of Ridgewood Pearl, which won the Breeders Cup Mile at Belmont in 1995 for Oxx, Johnny Murtagh, and is also owned by Sean and Anne Coughlan.
“She's a nice filly,” explained Oxx after recording only his third juvenile success of the season,
“She's been working well, but it was hard to know if she'd handle the ground. And you never know what you're meeting at this time of year.
“She'll start in a Guineas trial next spring as she deserves to be given her chance.”
Murtagh, who has picked up the ride on French ace Whipper in the Breeders Cup Mile, also partnered the third leg of the Curraghbeg treble, Redstone Dancer which, in Oxx's words, “ploughed through” the heavy ground to win the finale, the Abu Dhabi Maiden by seven lengths in the colours of Lady Clague.
Oxx explained: “She has been a bit unlucky but always had the ability to win a maiden.
“She'll be going to the December Sales at Newmarket, but we'll see what rating the handicapper gives her and she could run in a handicap at Leopardstown on the last day of the season (November 6)”
Also bound for the Sales, at Goffs on Friday, is the middle leg of Oxx's treble, Artist's Muse, a clear-cut winner of the U.A.E. Racing & Equestrian Federation Handicap.
Last year's champion apprentice Cathy Gannon made her move early on Sheikh Mohammed's filly. And the daughter of Cape Cross stayed on well to record an emphatic win and provide her rider with a very welcome change of luck, her first winner since being injured in a fall at Tramore in August and her fifteenth of the season.
Trainer Eoin Griffin, in Cheltenham to saddle Another Ticket today and Kevkat tomorrow, and jockey Declan McDonogh were also in double form, sharing the runaway win of Akinola, a ten lengths winner of the Al Asayl Handicap/
Griffin had earlier struck with Mutadarek, which defied top-weight of 10-0 in the Stephen Quirke Memorial Apprentice Handicap.
Owned by the four-man Prospectors Syndicate, Mutadarek gave apprentice Tom Molly (18), from Littleton, County Tipperary and apprenticed to Jim Bolger, his second career success, his first on the flat and compensation for his experience on Time On Your Side at Clonmel on Sunday when his saddle slipped.
The speedy Patronise, trained by Patrick Prendergast for English owner Martin Barber, made it fourth-time-lucky when landing the President Of The U.A.E. 2-Y-0 Race under a confident ride by Niall McCullagh.
In a race started by flag due to the very soft ground conditions, Patronise travelled strongly throughout and picked up well when popped the question to beat Andramad and eye-catching debutante Sonic Sea.
“He did it well and deserved a win,” declared a delighted Patrick Prendergast, “He's a nice horse and has come up against some smart types. And it took time for the penny to drop.
“He has loads of speed and will stay sprinting next year,” he added of the Dixieland Band colt, a fifth individual juvenile winner for the trainer this season.
Wayne Lordan has enjoyed a tremendous season and notched his 41st success of the 2005 campaign when Danehill Music landed the U.A.E. Nursery in convincing style. The winner is trained by David Wachman, who is monitoring ground conditions at Belmont before deciding whether Luas Line will take her chance in the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
Apprentice Michael (M.A.) Cleere incurred the wrath of the Stewards for his handling of Bragadino in the Al Asayl Handicap.
Cleere was suspended for seven days for improper and excessive use of his whip.
Wexford's meeting on Saturday and Sunday is subject to an inspection on Thursday after the track was passed unfit for racing due to waterlogging.
