Famous likely to step into Group company after easy win
The Ballydoyle filly, backed into 1/3, dictated the pace under Johnny Murtagh and stretched clear in the closing stages to beat Rosa Muscosa readily by three and a half lengths.
Trainer Aidan O’Brien was not present, but his wife Ann Marie explained: “Aidan is thinking about running her in the ‘Group 3’ here next week (the Silver Flash Stakes) or might decide to wait for the ‘Debutante’ (also at Leopardstown, on August 6).”
Murtagh made a gallant effort to persuade 11/8 favourite Leandros to put his best foot forward in the later Clonkeen Race over six furlongs. But, having hung in behind his two chief rivals, the former champion got the Ger Lyons-trained gelding motoring inside the final furlong, only to be beaten a half-length by the battling mare Miss Gorica.
Kevin Manning made the running on Empirical Power, which tried to battle back when headed by the Wayne Lordan-ridden winner, but was unable to get back on terms, being pipped for the runner-up spot by Leandros.
“She’s so genuine,” declared winning trainer Morgan. “She’s in the Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday, but the ground will probably be against her. I’d love to find either a listed or Group 3 race for her, but it’ll have to be on fast ground.”
Rose Hip earned a return to Leopardstown next Thursday for the nine-furlong Stillorgan Handicap when scraping home a short-head winner over Worldly Wise in the Fernleigh Handicap under Pat Smullen .
Delighted owner-trainer Joe Murphy said: “She’s tough and so genuine and deserved to get her head in front again. She’ll come back here for the big nine-furlong handicap next week. After that we might start dreaming about the ‘Mile’ at Galway.”
Pat Flynn, trainer of Worldly Wise, came out on the right side of a later short-head verdict, in the following Aslan – Live On Stage After Racing Apprentice Handicap when Birregurra, ridden by Chris Geoghegan, pipped hot favourite Napa Starr.
The runner-up, 7lb. ‘well-in’ after his facile win at Bellewstown last Friday, was backed from 2/1 to 5/4 to follow-up. And, having come from well off the pace, the Charles Byrnes-trained gelding looked the likely winner inside the final furlong before being beaten on the nod.
Martin Maguire, representing Pat Flynn, said: “She ran well from a bad draw at Ballinrobe the last day. She should keep improving and will probably go to Galway.”
Pat Smullen, successful on Rose Hip, completed a double in the concluding Avoca Maiden when Boulay, trained by Michael Grassick, got the better of Colleoni and odds-on favourite Noble Galileo.
“Pat says she wants a mile and six and an ease in the ground, but he likes her,” said the winning trainer. “I spoke to him after he rode his winner earlier and I was in two minds about running her on such fast ground. I won’t run her on it again, but she should be capable of stepping up in class when she gets conditions to suit her.”
Grassick explained that Boulay cost €250,000 as a foal and carries the colours of Ken Campbell “a loyal owner for many years“, from Belfast.
Decent Fella, which carries the colours of his trainer Eddie Lynam, landed the Monaloe Handicap at the expense of Magic Mornings and the unlucky favourite Kalacan, prompting Lynam to quip: “He was named after me.”
Lynam added: “He hadn’t done much when he won on his debut at Dundalk last year and is a nice, progressive colt. It’s good that I own him myself – at least, I’ll get a few quid !”
