Dahindar again shows his liking for Dundalk
Settled in mid-division by Padraig Beggy, the six-year-old had to be extricated from the inside to challenge and, in front at the furlong-pole, ran on strongly under pressure to score by three-quarters of a length from Moonreach with Bashin Biyoum Zain third.
“It’s a pity it wasn’t last Saturday,” quipped winning trainer, referring to his Sole Power’s bid for glory in Dubai last Saturday, before adding “He loves this place, but doesn’t like soil. He’ll run again here next Friday, because I don’t think there’s another race for him here until Halloween. I suppose he’ll have to run on the turf for the summer.”
Winning rider Beggy was severely cautioned by the Stewards for careless riding, following an incident at the two furlong pole, in which he caused interference when moving off the rail to mount his challenge.
Training honours went to Tommy Stack, who recorded his second double of the new season, scoring with fillies Celerina and Sikara, both in the colours of Swiss owner Peter Piller.
Sikara, runner-up in a heavy ground Roscommon maiden in her only juvenile outings last September, justified 6/5 favouritism in the mile fillies maiden, edging past market rivals Adiynara and She’s A Queen before staying on to win by three-quarters of a length.
“She’s a nice filly, a grand-daughter of Tarascon, and has done well over the winter,” said Fozzy Stack afterwards. “She ran in the heavy last year, when we just wanted to get a run into her. But this surface suited her better and she’ll appreciate good ground. We have no firm plan for her, but she’ll definitely step-up in trip.”
Teenager Shane Gray, off the mark at the Curragh less than two weeks ago, registered his second racecourse success when steering 9/4 favourite Celerina to a convincing win in the five-furlong Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap, initiating the Stack double.
Having tracked the leaders, Celerina edged ahead soon after the furlong-pole and kept going well to beat Primalova by a length, a popular win for local lad Gray, who received an enthusiastic welcome to the winner’s enclosure.
Fozzy Stack commented, “She’s improving all the time and it doesn’t take much to get her fit. She doesn’t get any further than five furlongs, so options are going to be fairly limited for her in this country. It’s great for Shane to ride a winner here, with plenty of local support.”
Garry Phillips, who partnered runner-up Primalova, found himself in trouble with the Stewards, having failed to weigh-in.
His mount was disqualified and placed last while Phillips was suspended for five racing days.
Wayne Lordan, successful on Sikara, completed a double and provided one of three big shocks on the night when he forced the Charles O’Brien-trained Formal Bid up close home to foil Chip Tea and Sarteano in the two-mile Handicap.
