Double moves Smullen back into lead in title race
The Khalid Abdullah-owned Thunder Bridge made an impressive debut in the opening two-year-old maiden while Second Glance, relishing the softening ground, opened her account in the concluding Sligo Champion Maiden to put Smullen on the 74-winner mark for the season, one ahead of Johnny Murtagh.
Thunder Bridge overcame being posted in stall one to bolt up in the Irish Stallion Farms Median Auction 2-Y-0 Maiden, taking command on the home turn before stretching clear to slam front-running favourite Dinger Belle by no less than thirteen lengths.
The performance impressed Smullen, who commented: “He’s a very nice horse and has been doing everything right at home. He picked up nicely out there and did his job well. He’s still very light and will be nothing until next year.”
The Smullen/Weld double was completed when Second Glance, in the colours of Desmond Waters, recorded a facile win in the ten-furlong Sligo Champion Maiden, beating favourite Fleeting Moment by seven lengths.
“I’m surprised we had to wait this long for her to win,” said Smullen. “The mile at Listowel was too sharp for her last time. But everything was right today — ground and trip and I’m delighted she’s won for her owner.”
The Rosewell House team had to settle for the runner-up berth with long-absent Barrel Of Fun, the 11/8 favourite turned over by 33/1 shot Karma in the Racecard Advertisement @ Sligo Maiden.
Karma, enterprisingly ridden by Emmet McNamara, stayed on stoutly to keep the favourite (with a high head carriage) at bay by a length, to the delight of trainer Tom Hogan, who saddled his first ever winner in Sligo back in 1998.
Hogan explained: “I gave Emmet (McNamara) his first winner, at Tipperary. But it has been a long wait before giving him another. This filly’s owner Morgan Cahalan is a good supporter of mine. His son Thomas bought this filly last year and his daughter Jessica is my secretary.”
Harry Rogers and Pat Shanahan combined to win the featured Foley’s Bar & Off Licence Sligo Handicap with Tin Town Boy, which made his crucial move turning for home before beating Master Marvel by four lengths.
A delighted Rogers stated: “Pat knows him well and know what to do. He made one move and that was it. He’s owned by a syndicate from the Athlone area and has been running well. But he should probably have won before now.”
Pat Martin has a good strike-rate at Sligo and struck again when Footprint, runner-up in a Listowel maiden, won the www.countysligoraces.com Nursery in the hands of Padraig Beggy, staying on strongly to get the measure of Milvian Bridge.
Martin commented: “It’s good timing for his owner Johnny Connaughton, who’s golfing today, but is due to sell this fellow’s half-sister in Newmarket next week. Footprint is a big, scopey horse. He should keep improving and this six and a half furlongs is a bare minimum for him. He’ll have one more run, in another nursery, and should make a smashing three-year-old next year.”
