Murtagh regains winning habit on juvenile pair
Having shown little on his debut at Leopardstown recently, Lake Ontario, a Johannesburg colt trained by Aidan O’Brien and carrying the colours of Derrick Smith, showed major improvement when bolting up in the opening Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden over six furlongs.
Sent to the front at the furlong-pole, Lake Ontario quickly asserted, quickening clear to slam Inishmot Duchess by five lengths and prompting the winning rider to comment: “He came on a lot from his run in Leopardstown and felt a different colt today. He picked up well and should improve again.”
Trainer Willie McCreery declared: “I would have been very disappointed if he didn’t win today, after what happened in Tipperary,” after Lightening Thief, unlucky at listed level last time, completed Murtagh’s double in the Panoramic Restaurant 2-Y-0 Auction Race.
Always close up as Catalpa Sail set the pace, the 11/8 favourite was threatened briefly by the well-backed filly Khelino but, when shaken up by Murtagh, picked up well and drawing away to beat the longtime leader by three lengths.
McCreery, who trains the Acclamation colt for the six-member GAA Legends Syndicate, headed by Galway man John Tobin, added: “He was very unlucky in Tipperary the last day and it was important to get his confidence back. He won well and there are plenty of options open to him. We might bring him back to five furlongs, for a listed race at the Curragh in two weeks.”
Dermot Weld, who dominated another Galway Festival last week, notched his thirteenth win in eight days when Rock Critic, 15lb. ‘well-in’ after a very easy win at Galway, followed-up in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Series Handicap.
“He did what we expected him to do,” stated Weld, “Leigh (Roche) tried to get him relaxed and was easy on him. But I was glad when they got to the line. He’s Profound Beauty’s lead-horse at home, so you won’t see a lot of him from now on. The mare is well and is heading for the Yorkshire Oaks, once the ground is safe.”
Rock Critic, raised 20lb. by the handicapper after his Galway success, pressed Final Flashback from the start and, in front early in the straight, was always in command, although Aidan O’Brien’s Greatwallofchina stayed on to get within a half-length of the winner.
The John Oxx-trained Hanakiyya, an Aga Khan-owned Danehill Dancer filly, denied Weld a double when outpointing his Truth Seeking in the mile fillies maiden. Ridden by Fran Berry, Hanakiyya edged ahead two furlongs out and stayed on to triumph by two and a half lengths.
Pat Downes, representing the Aga Khan, commented, “She’s a very well-bred filly. And it was important for her to win. John doesn’t have any big plans for her and she’ll probably go handicapping.”
James Nash saddled Rayhani to justify 7/4 favouritism in the Admission Bundle At Naas Hurdle and gave the credit for the seven-year-old’s win to Nikki Moore, who looks after the horse and who diagnosed and treated a minor problem behind since Rahyhani’s Killarney loss.
