Ashmore forced to pull out all the stops
The Owen McKenna trained black, who had already won the Munster Cup at Newcastlewest this season, was 1-5 to come out on top yesterday morning and having accounted Quinlan, who went unsighted, in the quarter-final and coming from behind to put out Glen Aine by five lengths in the semi-final, he looked set fair.
At the top of the draw Killeagh Turbo, despite changing sides, came from behind to have two and a half lengths to spare over Mar City at the escape in his quarter-final and then raced away from Whytanyard Ned to have a six lengths advantage at the escape.
Killeagh Turbo poached a narrow lead in the final but Catunda Ashmore got his nose in front where it mattered to take the only points.
The Derby Trial Stake decider was an exciting affair between Subtle Tone and Heradson with the latter leading all the way to hold a half a length advantage over a closing Subtle Tone at the escape.
Beabus, who ran up for a trial stake at Kilmallock earlier in the season, went one better when taking the Oaks ticket. She came up against Comogue Sky in the decider and in the course of the day she came from behind to take the opening turn by a narrow margin.
