Smullen sparkles with 134/1 treble
The well-backed 2/1 favourite dictated the pace throughout. And Smullen, completing a double on the Medicean filly, gradually increased the tempo from the turn into the straight, stretching clear before holding even-money favourite Haziyna by a length and half.
Winning trainer Weld made a hasty exit from the winner’s enclosure, leaving his son Mark to comment: “The trainer’s in a hurry but was delighted by the filly’s performance and Pat’s excellent ride. And he was delighted her owner (Eva Marie Haefner) was here to see the filly win. The plan is to get black type for her during the year.”
Smullen had initiated his treble when Allegra Tak, trained by Harry Rogers, recorded a smooth success in the six-furlong Siteserv plc Supporting Aware Handicap.
Always in the firing-line, the Invincible Spirit had her rivals in trouble at the furlong-pole and came home three lengths clear of Naked Cowboy, a significant morning gamble and backed from 8/1 to 5/2 favouritism on-track.
Trainer Rogers commented: “She was entitled to be thereabouts and did it well. She ran well for Shane (Foley) in Limerick the last day. But Pat rides mine, when he’s available. And we had the right man on her back today. She won her maiden here two years ago and obviously likes the place.”
And Smullen completed his haul when 4/1 favourite Ted Dolly battled tenaciously to land the seven-furlong Goffs Country Supporting Aware Handicap, getting home by three-quarters of a length from Adam’s Return.
Ted Dolly is trained by Joanna Morgan, who admitted: “He’s a hardy boyo. It took three 13-stone men to break him down in Galway, including Jamie Kyne’s father. They did a great job, because he was barely manageable when he arrived to me. He’s so tough you can run him as often as you want. And he appreciated the ground tonight. We’ll keep him busy,. And I’m sure he’ll end up in Ballybrit.”
Paul Deegan, hoping for plenty of rain ahead of Best Hello’s bid for a share of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby spoils on Sunday, was on the mark when the previously frustrating Expire made every yard of the running to win the opening, five-furlong RSA Supporting Aware Maiden.
Showing good speed all the way, the Kheleyf gelding was clear with a furlong and a half to race before beating Red Army Blues by four and a half lengths, prompting a relieved Deegan to declare “about time !” Deegan added: “He’s been a bit unlucky but thankfully, he’s got his head in front, at last.”
The Ger Lyons-trained newcomer Burn The Boats was a strong second favourite against well-touted, Kevin Prendergast-trained debutante Catamount for the two-year-old maiden.
But it was Lyons’ second-string, the Keagan Latham-ridden Pitlochry which arrived with a strong late challenge to collar the favourite close home and score by a head, prompting Lyons to comment: “I like both horses and expected them to run well and to improve for the experience. We’ll see how he comes out of the race before making plans. I’d like to find a winner’s race for him, but opportunities are scarce and he might have to go the black type route.”
Kevin Manning brought Late Debate to challenge on the wide outside in the concluding North Kildare Chamber network Evening Handicap. And the American-bred colt ran on strongly to get the better of Edenshaw by two lengths.
Ger Flynn, representing Jim Bolger, said: “He was a bit unlucky the second day in Navan before disappointing the last day. But he’s a fair horse and likes good ground — that’s why Kevin brought him wide, looking for the best of it. He won well and is due to go to the July Sales.”
