Double eve of Derby boost for Heffernan
Heffernan soon had Man Of Iron in front in the one-mile Irish Stallion Farms Maiden and, although challenged and headed briefly under two furlongs out, the Giant’s Causeway colt responded to Heffernan’s driving, edged back into the lead and then stretched clear through the final furlong to slam Lady Rockfield by five and a half lengths.
In typically frank style, the Kildare-man commented: “He’s tough and honest, like his sire, and stays well.”
In contrast, Heffernan, out of luck later with Hail Caesar, produced the once-raced Danetime filly Skating with a steady, late run to collar front-running Daisy Buchanan in the last fifty yards and then hold the late surge of debutante Venice In Spring by three-quarters of a length, with the longtime leader a short-head away third.
Skating, unplaced in the Leopardstown maiden won by Roses For The Lady back in March, is trained by David Wachman.
It was a night to remember for young Ronan Whelan (16), from Monasterevan, County Kildare, a former champion on the pony racing circuit, who tasted his first racecourse success on Seachantach in the one-mile Come Racing Here Again Next Friday Handicap.
Whelan, who joined Seachantach’s trainer Jim Bolger last November, gave the 4/1 favourite, blinkered for the first time, an enterprising, front-running ride to beat Broker Morant by two and a half lengths.
The Tony Martin-trained Salute Him, confidently ridden by Fran Berry, came form last to first to deny Whelan and Jim Bolger a double with Maidin Moch in the June Summer BBQ Nights At Navan Handicap.
Whelan produced 15/8 favourite Maidin Moch with a well-timed challenge from the two furlong pole but, just as the recent Down Royal winner edged ahead, Salute Him loomed large on the outside and stormed through to record an ultimately emphatic two and a half lengths win.
Martin said, “He’s been threatening to do something like that for a while, either over hurdles or on the flat. I’d say the ground made a big difference to him. Fran said that he really enjoyed it today, and that’s the way to ride him, to drop him in and take your time. I suppose he’ll mix it, hurdles and flat, over the summer.”
But the in-form Bolger team struck again in the finale, the Lynn Lodge Stud Race, when Ard Na Greine, strongly ridden by Davy Moran; showed commendable battling qualities to beat French Irish and complete a stable double.
Having shared the lead with the red-hot Aidan O’Brien-trained favourite Hail Caesar, Ard Na Greine asserted before being headed briefly by the runner-up. But the Galileo colt fought back well to take command close home and triumph by a length and a quarter.
Jarlath Fahey will consider bidding for a quick double with Kardyls Hope at Fairyhouse on Wednesday following the filly’s smooth success in the six-furlong Anniversary Handicap.
Carrying the colours of Seamus Finucane, the daughter of Fath, always close to the pace, was in command from the two-furlong pole and beat Island Breeze by two lengths, prompting trainer Fahey to say: “She has been working well at home. We felt that, if she was going to have a day, this was it.
