Latino turns on the magic to land the spoils
This is a contest which is usually fiercely competitive, but the five-year-old completely outclassed his rivals, after being produced with impeccable timing by Robbie Burke.
Sheer Tenby tried to make all, but hung dramatically towards the stands in the straight and his chance was quickly gone.
By now Burke had worked Latino Magic into the race and he flew the last hundred yards to easily beat Camargue and Absolute Image.
A clearly emotional Osborne said: “He has been a super horse. He has kept me on the map and, judging by this performance, will keep doing it for a while.
“He is a pleasure to train and seldom runs a bad race. He has come down 6lbs, is a big, strong colt and was entitled to take his chance.
“Robbie Burke gets on amazingly well with him and deserved to win one of these. I see how good Robbie is every day, but he is just not fashionable. Neither am I, perhaps this will help us to become more so!”
Commented Burke: “I just sat in mid-division and followed Pat Shanahan into the dip. I knew I'd win once I switched him in the straight.”
Brian Hughes, who rode Miss Trish, was suspended for three days for careless riding, following an incident before the straight.
Michael Cleere, who partnered Sheer Tenby, was also suspended for two days for careless riding.
Ruby Walsh gave Ballyhoctor a copybook drive to take the opening Golden Vale Horticulture Maiden Hurdle and credit Borrisokane, Co Tipperary handler, Jim Slevin, with his first winner.
Paul Carberry powered My Native Lad to the front heading to the second last, but Walsh produced the winner with typical precision and, despite being awkward at the last, Ballyhoctor eased away on the flat.
Slevin, who only has the one horse, said: “This is something for me to do in my retirement. I used to be in central fisheries and a bit of farming and back in the 60's spent five and a half years with Tom Dreaper. They were the good days and I schooled Flyingbolt and minded Fort Leney.”
The Foyle, trained by David Wachman for J P McManus, was a big morning-price gamble from 11-4 and 7-4 to 5-4 on track. He was beaten coming away from the third last and was subsequently found to have burst.
The McDonogh Property Chase produced a real thriller with favourite One more Minute and Safe Route going across the line on opposite sides of the track.
One More Minute held a clear lead early in the straight, but Safe Route gradually whittled it down and, to most observers, appeared to have grabbed the contest in the dying strides. But the camera revealed it was One More Minute who was a short head to the good. His rider, Paul Carberry, said: “I glanced over and thought I'd held on.”
Charlie Swan trains the winner and commented: "What a pity for poor old Willie (Austin, trainer of the second). He's my next-door neighbour and it would have been nice if it was a dead-heat!”
Noel Meade, a man with a tremendous record over the years at Galway, struck for the first time this week when Carlesimo took the McDonogh DIY Handicap.
Fran Berry rode a smashing race, bringing the winner with an irresistible late surge to cut down Dash Of Grey inside the furlong pole and then hold the late rush of Mountain Snow.
“Fair play to Fran, he had the tactics sorted out in his head and they worked”, said Meade. “I took this horse out of the Galway hurdle and, believe it or not, he's in a novice chase here on Saturday.
“He jumps really well, but we will have to see about that. Maybe, we will keep tipping away on the flat for the moment.”
Dermot Weld's Summer Scent proved a disappointing favourite in the McDonogh Feeds EBF Fillies Maiden. She found trouble in running approaching the straight and again had far from a clear passage through the last furlong.
She eventually took fourth spot, as Kevin Mannning forced Jim Bolger's Chennai up close home to short head Mrs Snaffles.
Weld also supplied the market-leader in the McDonogh Builders Providers EBF Maiden, Happy To Chat, but again it was a Bolger inmate, Loblolly Bay, who did the business.
Manning, riding out of his skin, swept Loblolly Bay ahead off the home turn and Happy To Chat could never get in a blow, going under by two lengths.
Homegrown, successful at Roscommon and Tipperary previously, completed a hat-trick in the McDonogh Property Handicap.
Seamus Heffernan drove the four-year-old into the lead inside the furlong pole, as a wall of horses tried to close him down.
The attendance was 24,756, up from 23,280 last year. The tote turned over €1,135,233, as against €1,098,862 in 2004. Bookmakers held €2,560,357, last year it was €2,488,571. All the figures are Tuesday course records.
