Blinkers help Smart Striking get over bout of seconditis
Blinkered for the first time, Smart Striking, an American bred filly owned by Seamus Dunne, stretched clear inside the final furlong to record a facile, three lengths win over morning gamble and 5/4 favourite Paraphernalia in the opening Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden.
Trainer John Oxx commented: “She’s had seconditis for a while, but the blinkers helped her. She hasn’t been finishing out her races but that wasn’t a problem today. She likes fast ground and is effective at seven furlongs or a mile.”
Berry followed-up when giving Napa Starr a power-packed ride to land the Fernleigh Handicap in a blanket-finish, which saw less than a length covering the first four home, Charles Byrnes’ charge earning the spoils by a neck from, Putapriceonthat.
“Fran gave him a tremendous ride and deserves all the credit,” stated a delighted Byrnes.
“The small field was a help and, when he goes up another few pounds from today’s mark of 82, we’ll probably have to start looking at premier handicaps for him.”
And, when quizzed about whether Napa Starr, recording his third win for the yard here, would go to Galway, Byrnes was emphatic: “He ran there last year and it didn’t suit him so he definitely won’t run there.”
Berry completed his treble and provided his boss John Oxx with a double when the Aga Khan-owned Simkana won the finale, the Avoca Maiden, quickening past Midnight Soprano and odds-on favourite Quest For Gold to score convincingly by two and a half lengths.
Simkana is a half-sister to dual Derby and Arc winner Sinndar and Oxx explained: “It was important to win with her. She stays well and likes fast ground so we’ll try to find a fillies handicap., over at least a mile and a half.”
Dermot Weld will seek black type for the Singspiel filly Be My Storm which justified odds-on favouritism, in the colours of Moyglare Stud Farm, in the nine-furlong Tote Jackpot Maiden, proving Pat Smullen with the first leg of his double.
Although probably not appreciating the fast ground, Be My Storm came through under a confident Smullen to get the better of Echoes Of History by a length and a quarter.
Weld explained: “She did what you’d expect her to do and did it nicely. She would prefer some ease in the ground but she’s good-looking, quality filly and we’ll see if we can get some black type with her.”
Smullen completed a double when Aladdin’s Cave proved an emphatic winner of the Tote Trifecta Rollover Handicap, coming through inside the final furlong to beat Princess Lomi and Striking Force in good style.
