Seeharn stakes Moyglare claim
Owned by Norman Ormis ton, the Pivotal filly got the better of speedy favourite Moonlit Garden and the fast-finishing longshot Gatamalata by a length to follow-up her debut success over course and distance.
Her trainer Kevin Prendergast, who saddled Termagent to win the Group 1 Moyglare last year, commented: “She’s a very smart filly but, by Pivotal, she hates that ground — that’s why she didn’t win by four lengths. She deserves a break now. She’ll be competitive at a higher level and won’t run again until the Moyglare and if it comes up soft for it, there’ll be no danger.”
The race was probably set up for Prendergast’s charge, as Moonlit Garden and Purple Glow set a strong pace, a situation confirmed by winning rider Declan McDonogh. “There was lots of pace in the race and I was able to sit in the box-seat as Pat (Smullen) and Kevin (Manning) bowled along. My filly hit a bit of a flat-spot at halfway, but battled really well through the last two furlongs.
“She has a massive long stride and stays well so stepping up to seven furlongs, or even a mile, should bring even more improvement from her.”
Ger Lyons saddled 14/1 shot Wade Giles, an Azamour gelding, to make a successful debut in the opening Sycamore Lodge Equine Hospital Maiden, swooping inside the final furlong to foil the Pat Smullen-ridden Palm Ridge.
Ridden by Keagan Latham, Wade Giles hit the front with a hundred yards to race before edging clear to score by a length and a half. A delighted Lyons explained: “I wouldn’t run him on fast ground here at the last meeting. But he’s a lovely horse and I wanted him to have a nice introduction. The fact that he won is a bonus. Hopefully, he’ll develop into a good horse.”
Lyons and Latham looked sure to complete a quick double with top-weight Ghetto Gospel in the Ladbrokes.com Handicap as Sean Jones’ progressive gelding came through to lead.
But Ghetto Gospel, seeking a fifth win from six starts, was caught close home by the Shane Foley-ridden Bob Le Beau, in the colours of Anamoine Ltd, ironically, a leading patron of Lyons’ yard.
Stepping up on a recent maiden win at Naas, the Jessica Harrington-trained Bob Le Beau prevailed by a head in a blanket-finish, with Musical Rain a similar distance away third. Mrs Harrington commented: “I thought the handicapper was tough enough on him after his maiden win. All the way up the straight, I didn’t think he’d get out of trouble. But he stayed on very well. Shane says he’ll have no problem staying a mile and a half and, needless to say, I see him as a potential hurdler later on.”
Earlier, the Michael Halford-trained Airspace made all along the stands rail to land the five-furlong Silken Thomas Handicap at the expense of Just For Mary and the unlucky Collingwood. Halford said of the Johnny Murtagh-ridden winner: “He’s getting the hang of sprinting and will probably come back here for the Rockingham. I thought the handicapper was wrong putting him up after his maiden win in Navan, but this proves that he was probably right.”
