Dynamo Dancer ‘an ideal horse for Galway’
Murtagh and Ger Lyons, who will be associated with City of Tribes in the opening Norfolk Stakes today, struck when Dynamo Dancer recorded a convincing win in the De Cecco Pasta and Pizza Restaurant Handicap, getting the better of Cool Touch and Nerys.
Lyons explained: “I thought at the end of last season that he would be my best three-year-old. He's a good horse, better than a handicapper but, mentally he still needs the penny to drop. Johnny thinks he'll be an ideal horse for Galway and we'll aim him at the €100,000 seven furlong handicap on the last day of the Festival.”
Murtagh completed his double when Medico, trained by Eddie Lynam for Lady O'Reilly, gained a narrow win in the Trentuno Restaurants Handicap and then survived a stewards inquiry.
Lynam described the winner as “very lazy at home” and intends bringing him back to Leopardstown for a similar handicap over nine furlongs next month.
Fran Berry brought his seasonal tally to 20 when proving successful on Karawana and King Rama, which will hopefully give his trainer John Kiely a boost as he recuperates from a recent operation.
Karawana, carrying the familiar colours of the Aga Khan and trained by John Oxx, stepped up considerably on a disappointing run at Limerick last time to win the Fillies' Maiden and will now go handicapping.
Later Berry produced King Rama with a well timed challenge to gain a narrow victory over Lee Applause in a blanket finish to the second division of the Leopardstown Lions Club Handicap. This winner was following up a recent success at Roscommon and according to Paddy Kiely, brother of the winning trainer, there are no firm plans for the five-year-old which carries the colours of the Brainwave syndicate.
Declan McDonogh, fresh from his first Royal Ascot win on Tuesday, followed up on the Adrian McGuinness-trained Toufan Express in the first division of the Leopardstown Lions Club Handicap. The winner is likely to re-appear under a mandatory penalty at Gowran Park on Sunday.
The famous Mullins family enjoyed another significant milestone at Limerick last weekend when Patrick Mullins, son of trainer Willie, recorded his first win in the saddle on Diego Garcia. The 16-year-old was on the mark again last night when Warrens Castle, like Diego Gardia owned by John Brennan and trained by the rider's father, proved a facile winner of the Alfa Romeo Maiden.
The rider's delighted grandparents, retired trainer Paddy Mullins and his wife Maureen were on hand for a special occasion which also marked the first ride on a racecourse for another grandson Emmett, son of George Mullins.
