Quinmaster runs his Tote Mile rivals ragged

JOHNNY MURTAGH rode a masterful race from the front to guide Quinmaster to success in the inaugural running of the Tote Mile EBF Handicap, formerly the McDonogh Handicap, at Galway last night

The in-form pilot clearly had no worries regarding the grey colt's stamina and set a scorching pace throughout. His nearest pursuer was the gambled on Dermot Weld-trained favourite Absolute Image, 9-2 to 3-1, but nothing could ever get in any sort of blow at the son of Linamix.

He lengthened in tremendous style in the straight, crossing the line two and a half lengths to the good.

Trainer, Michael Halford, recalled saddling Desert Trail to finish second in the race previously, but this was a first for him.

“Johnny gave him a great ride”, said Halford. “We castrated the horse earlier in the year, gave him a break and this was always the plan.

“We weren't sure he had the pace, but was working like a horse that had. There were no doubts about him staying. We will give him another try over hurdles now at some stage.”

The Weld bandwagon was soon back on track, however, when Supposition justified long odds-on betting with a cantering seven lengths victory in the Tote Exacta EBF Fillies Maiden. She made the highly-rated Duke Of Marmalade pull out all the stops on her debut at the Curragh and was different class to this opposition.

Pat Smullen allowed her lead approaching the straight and she stretched right away to win in good style.

The daughter of Dansili is owned by Khalid Abdullah and is one of a batch he has with Weld. They are the first horses he has ever had in training in this country. Commented Weld: “I will speak to Teddy Beckett (Abdullah's racing manager) before making plans. But she certainly has the potential to step up to stakes level. She's a sweet filly”.

The layers got a decent result in the tote.ie Online Betting Maiden Hurdle when Arc Lemanique, having a second run for Pat Fahy, beat the well fancied Balakan. The winner was in front a fair way out, but looked set to be swamped by the runner-up on the run to two out.

Fahy's charge, though, found plenty for pressure despite rider, Adrian Lane, losing his whip at the last and was two lengths to the good at the line.

“He is in again on Thursday, but won't run”, said Fahy. “We kept the pressure on here, all he does is stay, stay.”

Mesopotamia was withdrawn from this race by order of the stewards due to the fact that the horse presented had different markings and microchip number from those contained in the passport for Mesopotamia. Trainer, Michael O'Brien, was fined €2,000.

Charlie Swan's Sorry Al outstayed Pharviva to win the McDonogh Properties Chase for the T and C Syndicate. The syndicate is made up mostly of politicians, one of who, is former Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds.

Pharviva made a brave attempt from the front, but David Casey nipped the winner up the inside in the straight to score by two lengths.

Said Swan: “He likes it here, was second at the meeting last year and then won over hurdles at the September meeting.”

Uneasy favourite Commonchero was badly hampred when Star Horse fell at the eighth and could never work back into the race.

“It's a while since I've been here,” exclaimed Luke Comer, after his 20-1 shot Yellow Ridge had turned over Dermot Weld's heavily-backed newcomer, Diman, in the Tote EBF Maiden. Diman was taken from 11-8 to evens, but could never quite reel in the winner, who gave his Brazialin jockey, Franco Da Silva, a first success in Ireland.

Said the 27-year-old: “I am with Paul Magnier on the Curragh and, hopefully, will stay here for good. I have ridden 200 winners in Brazil and seven in Dubai.”

Willie Mullins' Diego Garcia put up a decent display to defy 10-0 in the Tote Jackpot Handicap. Partnered by Davy Condon, Diego Garcia got to the front inside the furlong pole to beat Grand Revival.

“He seems to be improving and will mix it flat and hurdles”, reported Mullins.

“He will go novice chasing in the winter.”

Moon At Midnight, representing Robbie Burke and Robbie Osborne, who took the McDonogh Handicap a year ago with Latino Magic, were back in the winner's enclosure after the Tote Trio Handicap. The five-year-old made all the running, answering every call from Burke to hold Marias Dream.

The attendance last night was 27,685 (a record for a Tuesday), substantially up from 24,756 a year ago. The Tote also set a Tuesday record, €1,198,996, up from €1,135,234. The bookmakers held €3,186,466, up from €2,561,457.