Moose completes remarkable double for Mullins
The remarkable 84-year-old maestro won his third Galway Plate, the others were Boro Quarter and The Gooser, at Ballybrit yesterday when Nearly A Moose stormed home clear of Kadoun.
Mullins, as cool as a cucumber - as usual - said afterwards: “It’s a superb day, I thought my days for winning the Galway Plate were long gone.”
For talented pilot, Robert Power, it was his biggest success to date, while Nearly A Moose carried the silks of Michael McGinley, father of Ryder Cup hero, Paul.
English challenger, Zafarabad, made most of the running until heavily-backed market leader, Back On Top, surged past over the third last.
Back On Top jumped the final two fences really well, but approaching the home turn Nearly A Moose ranged up as a major danger.
The winner forged ahead off the bend and, suddenly, Back On Top was running up and down in the one place.
It was soon a one-horse race, as Nearly A Moose found loads for pressure. He swept away to beat Kadoun, who stayed on for second, in front of Glynn Dingle.
Back On Top eventually finishd a disappointing fourth, appearing not to stay this two miles and six.
That was hard to understand, considering he got three miles and a furlong at the Punchestown Festival.
Mullins, who must surely be the first man in history to complete the Irish Oaks-Galway Plate double, said: “I knew he had the ability to win, but felt inexperience would be his downfall.
“Robert gave him some ride and this is a horse for the future.”
Power, who is 22 and was having a first ride in the Plate, said: “He never jumped and travelled so well.
“He missed one down the back, but soon recovered. He charged up the hill.”
Commented winning owner McGinley: “This horse carries the Donegal colours. We are playing Galway on Monday and I hope that is a good omen.”
The contest produced an all-time record for one race on the tote, which handled a whopping €344,379.
Direct Bearing enjoyed little more than a good school on his way to an easy success in the HP Services Classic Hurdle.
Paul Carberry immediately popped him away in front and this odds-on shot carried far too many guns for High Reef in the closing stages.
Commented trainer, Dermot Weld: “He runs again tomorrow (Galway Hurdle.) He will wear blinkers, because in a competitive race it will give him confidence.”
Weld completed a double, taking his tally for the week to three, when Mandhoor made a winning seasonal debut in the HP Imaging and Digital Printing Maiden.
The Rosewell House handler also had the morning price favourite, Hazelhatch, but he didn’t meet the engagement, having failed to “eat up.”
Alexander Anapolis got a dream run through on the inside turning for home, but Mandhoor gradually reeled her in, getting on top in the last fifty yards.
“He’s no superstar, but battled well and will now go for a handicap”, reported Weld.
Tom Hogan saddled his second Festival winner, he was on the mark a year earlier with Native Sparkle, when Doonaree defied 10-0 in the HP Software Publishing Services Handicap.
The seven-year-old scored with plenty in hand as well, after going to the front off the home turn for Fran Berry. “He’s a smashing horse and it is always nice to win at Galway”, said Hogan. Quizzed as to the fact his charge finished last at the Curragh previously, Hogan explained: “He got badly interfered with after a couple of furlongs and was almost brought down.” Doonaree is likely to reappear in a two mile and two handicap hurdle at Galway on Sunday.
His regular pilot, Keith Hadnett, will be in Australia with the Irish team and Hogan has asked Barry Geraghty to take the ride.
Hogan did it again in the final race of the day, the HP Customer Support Classic Handicap, when Animal Lover proved far too good for Nassau Royale.
The latter was the medium of some hefty wagers, but had no answer to the winner through the last furlong.
Jaguar Claw, trained by Frances Crowley and having his first run for over three months, ran away with the HP Software Licensing and Management Solutions Handicap Hurdle.
Ruby Walsh had him on the pace throughout and there was only going to be one result once Jaguar Claw eased on heading to the second last.
“He was going well at home, but I still thought it was a huge ask first time back”, remarked Crowley.
A fair touch went astray on the Niall Moran trained Potsdam in the HP Managed Services Handicap.
Backed from 25-1 to 6’s, he seemed full of running when hitting the front turning in.
But he quickly jinked to his left and had no answer to Silver Spray and Billy Lee from inside the furlong pole.
Michael O’Brien’s High Priestess was the one punters wanted in the HP Supercomputing Maiden and she didn’t let them down. Pat Smullen, he later partnered Mandhoor to success, drove the filly clear early in the straight and kept her right up to her work in the closing stages.
