Dorset Square takes advantage of lenient flat mark
Unplaced in a handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival and in the Prix La Barka at Auteuil in his two outings after a break, the Pat Smullen ridden seven-year-old came through late to thwart Apache Drums and Playdate, scoring by a cosy two lengths.
Trainer Mullins, who must decide this morning whether to run Dorset Square again, under a mandatory penalty, in Tipperary tomorrow, was not present but Smullen commented: “We had to wait for the gap, but he picked up well. He looked well-in on his hurdle form and rating and did the job well.”
Johnny Murtagh, not a regular visitor to County Mayo’s only track, but successful here last month, struck again when odds-on favourite Dawariya landed the fillies maiden at the expense of Black Belt.
The Selkirk filly, kept to the outside all the way, had to work hard to land the spoils. But Murtagh conceded: “It’s not an ideal track for an inexperienced filly like this. But she did it well and she’ll stay a bit further.”
John Bleahen, who trains near Ballinasloe, saddled the Montjeu mare Fleur De Nuit to follow-up a recent bumper win on the track in the opening Ladies Day At Ballinrobe Maiden, Declan McDonogh’s mount taking control o the approach to the straight before slamming Long Strand by thirteen lengths.
Bleahen commented: “She’s a smashing mare. She’s awful genuine and loves racing.
“She won well the last day, but this was very impressive. Declan was impressed.
“If she got beaten today, we were going hurdling. But, after this, she deserves a break and will stay on the flat for a while.”
Chief talking point in the hurdle action was the defeat of 8/11 chance Uncle Taffy which, 13lb. ‘well-in’ after his easy win at Gowran Park on Sunday, was given plenty to do by Derek O’Connor before finishing fourth behind South Wing in the Mulranny Park Hotel Handicap Hurdle.
South Wing, ridden to victory by Nina Carberry, will be part of Gordon Elliott’s team heading for Perth next week.
Uncle Taffy’s trainer Tony Martin and rider Derek O’Connor were interviewed by the Stewards in the wake of the favourite’s performance, Martin suggesting that the race might have come too quickly after Sunday’s win while O’Connor later said: “He was very keen, stepped at the second last and then emptied very quickly.”
