Superb 329/1 treble for Berry
Berry, who completed a four-timer on the track last Friday, shared in Michael Halford’s juvenile double with the Aga Khan-owned Daliyra and Dalkan in the fillies and colts’ maidens respectively
In the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden, Murtagh, on favourite Shirley Blake, had worked hard to get the better of the Smullen-ridden Brushed Aside early in the final furlong before Berry swooped late on Daliyra to snatch the spoils by three-quarters of a length.
Trainer Halford commented: “She was a bit unlucky here the last day, when she had to race wide before coming home well. She certainly stays and stuck at it well.
“I’m not sure whether we’ll run her again this season. But there’s plenty of improvement in her and she should make a nice staying filly next year.”
The Sinndar colt Dalkan, unlucky at Listowel last time, completed the two-year-old double for the Halford team in the one-mile colts maiden and this fellow arrived even later than his stable-companion earlier.
Having run into traffic problems approaching the furlong-pole, Berry found a gap early in the final furlong and galvanised his mount for a late surge, which saw him get up to foil the Murtagh-ridden favourite September Morn by a neck.
“He’s tough and genuine and stays well,” stated Halford, “He’s improved with every run. He loves this surface and, after four runs, I don’t know whether we’ll go again with him this season. He’ll get further next year.”
Berry started his night with victory on the well-drawn Qeyaada, trained by Jim Ryan for his wife Geraldine, in the opening www.louthholidays.com Handicap over five furlongs.
The four-year-old tackled front-running Liberty Island inside the final furlong to score by a length and a quarter, delighting her trainer, who commented: “That was great. She’s tough and consistent and, ideally, five furlongs is a bit sharp for her. She’s better over six and might even stay seven. I don’t think we’ll find another race for her over six. She’s due to go to the Newmarket Sales in December.”
Berry was narrowly denied a four-timer and Michael Halford a treble when 9/2 favourite If Per Chance was pipped by Mid Mon Lady in the Buy A Racing Post Bonus Yearling Bonus Candidate Handicap.
Narrowly beaten by Sunwise here last week, Mid Mon Lady is trained by Harry Rogers for the Mad In The Head Syndicate and provided apprentice Daryl Byrne with his third career success, thus ending his 10lb. claim.
Rogers said: “She likes the surface here and was a bit unlucky to be beaten last week. She’s entered at Navan on Wednesday and, if the ground stays right, she’ll probably run there.”
After hitting the crossbar twice, Johnny Murtagh broke his duck for the night when Man Of Iron justified even-money favouritism in the Buy A Racing Post Bonus Yearling Bonus Candidate Race.
Murtagh eased the Giant’s Causeway colt ahead over a furlong out before drawing clear to beat Cochlear by three and a half lengths.
