Star finishes off her season in great style
The 2/1 favourite tracked the leaders on the inside and got a remarkable run to seize the advantage with less than a furlong and a half to race. Soon clear, she ran on tenaciously to hold the late surge of Bush Maiden by a length.
“She’s a great filly,” declared trainer Frances Crowley in the winner’s enclosure, “It’s a great way to end the season and I hope she’ll head to Dubai for a listed race in the first week of February.”
“Her owner was thinking about covering her, but I hope she stays in training because I’d love to run her in something like the Matron Stakes next year. She had to miss it this year, but I think she could be capable of being placed in it.”
Cheyenne Star was the second leg of a double for Crowley initiated when her husband Pat Smullen booted 14/1 shot Tuesday Flyer home in the Donnelly’s Bary & Restaurant Handicap. The winner is owned by Dundalk Stadium director Hugh McGahon.
Reigning champion Declan McDonogh completed a double on Raja and Rainbow Rising in the opening races, bringing his tally on the new track to nine.
Colm O’Donoghue picked up a two-day careless riding ban for his handling of Viking Fire in the two-year-old maiden.
Noel Meade has ruled his Champion Hurdle hope Iktitaf out for the season after he suffered a nasty cut schooling yesterday morning.
The six-year-old was expected to make his seasonal reappearance in the Maplewood Developments Hurdle at Punchestown this weekend.
“Iktitaf got a cut schooling this morning,” said Meade. Paul (Carberry) came in to school him and he suffered a nasty overreach.
“It’s a bad cut. We sent him off to hospital to have it stitched – it’s definitely a bad cut. It’s put paid to his season I would think.”
