Tweedy opens account with emphatic win
Green on her recent debut at Fairyhouse, the Eddie Lynam-trained daughter of Oasis Dream raced prominently throughout and stretched clear with more than furlong to race to beat The Mighty Atom by four and a half lengths.
Lynam explained: “I was confident leaving Fairyhouse that she’d win next time. But, when I rang Fran Berry to ride her again and he decided to ride Mick Halford’s (Nidian) instead, I was worried. I’m not sure she beat a whole lot, but she did it well. We’ll put her in a handicap next, to teach her a bit more. And we'll take it from there.”
A real bargain buy at just 1,500 guineas, Song Of Time bolted up in the colours of Jaber Abdullah in the opening Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Auction Maiden, making virtually all under Willie Supple to slam Bob Younger by nine lengths.
Song Of Time is trained by Paul Deegan, who commented: “She had a lovely first day at the office, at Leopardstown, and learned plenty. And the drop back in trip was just the job. She’s tough and genuine and has plenty of boot.
“I entered her for the ‘Balanchine’ at the Curragh over the weekend, but decided to come here instead, because this looked winnable. She won’t run at the weekend now. So I’ll have to find something suitable for her in a few weeks.”
Odds-on players collected after the concluding, three-runner Naas Summer Evenings Race, in which 106-rated favourite Emperor Claudius got the better of market rival Jembatt by a length.
Emperor Claudius, which was following-up up his recent seasonal debut success at Fairyhouse, is trained by Aidan O’Brien and was ridden by his son Joseph.
Trainer Michael Halford declared: “Gary gave him a super ride,” after Desert Romance, ridden by Gary Carroll, fought tenaciously to hold the late surge of well-backed Kalacan in the one-mile Kill Handicap.
Halford added: “He loves fast ground and battled great. He ran terrible the last day and nothing came to light. He was just wrong. But he’s improving with racing.”
Bought out of Frances Crowley’s at the Breeze-Up sale as a two-year-old, Desert Romance is owned by the Calypso Partnership, headed by Cork-based surgeon Paul Redmond, who is currently at a conference in Italy.
The Kalacan team of Ger Lyons and Keagan Latham had enjoyed better luck half an hour earlier when Solent Ridge defied top weight in the six furlong Fishery Lane Handicap.
“That was long overdue,” said Lyons, “He works like a 100-horse at home, but things haven’t gone his way on-track. But his form suggested he might win. Ideally, he’s a seven-furlong horse. It was good timing tonight, because it’s my first time to meet his owner Chris Dineen.”
And Latham added: “I felt they went too fast for the quality of horse in the race. I knew my horse wants seven furlongs, so I was in no hurry.”
Apprentice Daryl Byrne registered his first win of the season when longshot Cheval Rouge, blinkered for the first time, denied favourite School Holidays in the naasracecourse.com Handicap.
Padraig Beggy recorded his first win since losing his 3lb. claim when Feis Ceoil proved a facile winner of the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden.
The Bill Farrell-trained daughter of Key Of Luck powered clear up the hill to beat front-running Ballydoyle filly Ice Empress by four and a half lengths, prompting her trainer to comment: “She’s consistent and improving. I don’t know how strong the opposition was, but she did it well. I have no plans for her. A lot will depend on the handicapper.”
Only twelfth when switched to the outside with less than two furlongs to race, the Tagula filly, which Harry Rogers trains for his wife Mary, swept through to lead inside the final furlong and win readily by two and a half lengths.
Rogers said: “I fancied her at Leopardstown the last day, although she was out of the handicap. But, when she turned into the straight, she just downed tools. So the blinds made a big difference to her tonight. It’s nice for Daryl. Horses run for him. And I just hope this gets him going for the season.”
* Apprentice Mick Cleere was suspended for one raceday for using his whip with excessive force and frequency on Rusky Dusky in the Fishery Lane Handicap.
