Berry ends turf season on a high with 150/1 treble
Runner-up in the Irish Cesarewitch, What A Charm the second leg of a double for trainer John Oxx, sluiced through the soft ground to slam Prince Chaparral by four and a half lengths, to the delight of her trainer who emphasised: “It’s a very good achievement for a three-year-old to win the November Handicap, particularly a filly.”
He added: “This is the first time she’s had her ground all year. She must have it soft and I had her entered everywhere all year, but I wouldn’t run her on unfavourable ground. She went up 3lb. for her Cesarewitch second, which was a concern. The soft ground was the key today.”
Trainer James Nash expressed his satisfaction at Luisant’s win for Berry in the Knockaire explaining: “Fran has given this horse great rides all year, without the desired result. So I’m delighted for him that things worked out today. I told Fran to forget that it was seven furlongs to ride him as if it was six, because I was pretty confident he’d stay. He’s a fantastic horse to train, so consistent, and I’m looking forward to next season already.”
Berry had initiated the treble on the Oxx-trained Manieree, which stepped-up on a solid debut run to land the opening two-year-old fillies maiden at the expense of Asheerah, prompting Oxx to comment: “She’s a nice filly, made a good start on her debut and improved nicely.
“I’d say the winner and runner-up are smart fillies and good prospects for next season. This filly should stay beyond a mile next year. She’ll start in a stakes race somewhere and we’ll take it from there.”
Kevin Prendergast was also in double form, scoring with two-year-old Tiz The Shot and Vastonea, the stable’s 20/1 second string, ridden by apprentice Sam James, in the colts’ maiden, in which stable-companion and favourite Giants Serapis (Declan McDonogh) finished a close third.
Tiz The Shot, winner of his maiden over a mile on the track last Monday, followed-up when taking the listed Eyrefield Stakes, getting the better of odds-on favourite Obligation by a length, the pair pulled six lengths clear of the rest.
“He’s hardy,” stated Prendergast. “He came out of Sunday’s race well, but we had no intention of running him again until I saw the race was cutting up. After all, he has all winter to recover from today. He’s a progressive sort and would be an ideal horse for Hong Kong.”
Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning won the seven-furlong nursery with Deire Na Sli while Curragh trainer Frank Ennis received a timely end-of-season boost when the Martin Harley-ridden Barack short-headed Waydownsouth in the www.thetote.com Handicap.
