Whelan strikes again on Gra Geal Mo Chroi
Sent off a strong 11/8 favourite, Gra Geal Mo Chroi cruised into the lead before the straight and kept going well to keep Tipper Road at bay, before King’s Jester came through to snatch second position.
Trainer Leahy stated: “She’s a consistent mare and loves soft ground — that has always been the key to her. She’s won five now and will probably go to Killarney next. She likes it around there. I was going to enter her for the claimer at Bellewstown, but I was afraid the ground would be too quick for her. There should be plenty of claimers at Dundalk during the winter, so we’ll probably be heading up the M50 a few times.”
Two of last year’s joint-champion apprentices Ben Curtis and Gary Carroll were on the mark earlier, on board Gossamer Seed and Core Element respectively while one of the rising stars among the apprentice ranks — Sam James — partnered even-money favourite Blue Mimosa to victory in the opening two-year-old maiden.
Ben Curtis, who won the Apprentice Derby at the weekend, drove the John Murphy-trained Gossamer Seed clear up the straight to slam recent Naas winner Allegra Tak by six lengths in the featured fillies handicap.
Trainer’s son George Murphy commented: “Ben gave her a great ride and told me she hated the ground. She should be capable of running in better company and we’ll probably try her at listed level. She could go to England for a suitable race during the summer.”
Core Element, which returned after a lengthy absence to win at Dundalk last month, defied a 7lb. rise when scoring under Gary Carroll in the Racecourse Signage Handicap, the market-drifter staying on stoutly to beat favourite In Good Voice by two lengths.
Winning trainer Shane Buggy said: “She should have been winning these races last year, but she had a few problems along the way. I was concerned about today’s ground and don’t plan on running her on it again. But she won well. She’s in at Leopardstown on Thursday, but I don’t think she’ll be going there.”
Favourite-backers got off a to a flying start when Blue Mimosa, ridden for Kevin Prendergast by Sam James, made most of the running to win the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Auction Maiden, holding the late challenge of well-backed Salacious Sally (16/1 to 15/2) by a head.
Having watched his home-bred filly triumph, owner Norman Ormiston saaid: “It’s a bit late to be getting off the mark for the season. But she won well. The soft ground suited her and it’s a stiff track, so we got away with running back over that trip. Kevin sees her as a miler.”
Third in the Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot, the Pat Flynn-trained Waydopwnsouth started 8/15 to beat his two rivals in the “4th August Ladies Day At Sligo” Handicap.
But Joseph O’Brien’;s mount was firmly put in his place by the Mck Hussey ridden outsider-of-three Few Are Chosen, a course and distance winner last August.
Carrying the familiar colours of Eimear Mulhern, Few Are Chosen had the favourite beaten turning for home and ran on to score by nine lengths, confirming Curragh form (behind Unaccompanied) with her two rivals and prompting relieved trainer Tracy Collins to explain: “She seems to like this place and loves soft ground.”
She added: “She beat the other two at the Curragh in the spring and was entitled to win on that form. We’re very pleased and this proves that, on her day, she’s a very good filly. We’ll consider running her in listed company before she finishes — she’s in foal to Dark Angel.”
