Wachman weighs in with nice double
With an official rating of 99, Unity was more than entitled to record a maiden success and, dropping in class after running behind Investec Oaks candidate Akdarena in a Group 3 at Naas last time, did exactly that when outpointing Alburj in the concluding Wednesday Evening Races At Fairyhouse Maiden.
Ridden by Johnny Murtagh, Unity clearly appreciated the step-up to a mile and a half, staying on stoutly to score by three-quarters of a length and prompting her trainer to comment: “She deserved that after running well in better company. And she has always been crying out for a mile and a half. There are lots of stakes races open to her over this trip, or further, races like the ‘Noblesse’ or ‘Give Thanks’ in Cork. And we’ll see how she fares.”
Similarly, School Holidays will seek some black type following her gutsy defeat of favourite Smart Striking in the seven-furlong Fairyhouse Summer Series Maiden.
The Harlan’s Holiday filly, a welcome winner for owner Noel O'Callaghan, was ridden by Wayne Lordan and, as Wachman explained: “She did it grand out there and has improved since her run in Naas. We’ll try to get some stakes form into her. Some black type would be a big plus for her.”
Declan McDonogh was seen at his strongest when getting the Kevin Prendergast-trained debutante Cat Fire home a narrow winner of the opening Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Auction Maiden.
The daughter of One Cool Cat looked held by Joe Eile early in the final furlong, but responded well to McDonogh’s strong handling to get up close home and triumph by a head.
No luck for McDonogh on top-weight and favourite Mujaazef in the following Ballybin Handicap, the 9/4 shot failing to get to grips with the enterprisingly ridden front-runner Miss Velocity, which scored by a length and three-quarters..
Backed from 11/2 to 7/2, Miss Velocity showed good speed throughout under apprentice Kieran O'Neill, shot clear with two furlongs to race and had the race in safe-keeping before the favourite hit top gear.
Former champion Pat Smullen partnered the Dermot Weld-trained Force Of Habit to a narrow victory over gambled-on fellow joint-favourite Born To Excel (7/1 to 7/2) in the 20% On Line Ticket Discount Handicap.
Joseph O’Brien, rider of runner-up Born To Excel, was subsequently suspended for two racedays, having been found guilty of using his whip with excessive frequency and not allowing his mount sufficient time to respond.
Eddie Linehan notched the third win of his career and ended his 10lb. claim when guiding Laughing Boy, trained by his boss Willie Mullins, to a smooth success in the Tote Trifecta Rollover Handicap.
Bought out of Luca Cumani’s for £18,000 at the Newmarket Sales, Laughing Boy was having his first run since joining Mullins and won with plenty in hand. Mullins’ other runner Cru broke a leg and had to be put down.
Mullins said: “It’s great for Eddie. This is the end of his 10lb. claim, but it should launch him for the season.”
Earlier, top-weight Full Title (12/1), owned and trained by Reggie Roberts and confidently handled by Billy Lee, proved a facile winner of the fairyhouseracecourse.ie Handicap, slamming One Of Three by four lengths.
