Oxx’s Sligo raid pays-off handsomely
The Niall McCullagh ridden Cape Of Good Grace, winner of her maiden at Tipperary last month, looks a very progressive filly on the evidence of this convincing, length and a quarter win over her stable-companion, with Asiya third.
Oxx commented: “This was a very nice race, with good prizemoney and it turned out a very competitive affair. I had two improving fillies, suitable for the race, and, thankfully, they both ran very well.
“I was worried that the ground wouldn’t be soft enough for Cape Of Good Grace. But she won nicely and is, obviously, a rapidly-improving filly. She might go for another similar race or could be ready for a step-up in grade.
“She stays very well, which is surprising, because she’s from a family of sprinters.”
When quizzed about his last visit to the track, he replied, “I’m not sure. But it’s a long time since there was a race like this in Sligo The Manager (Brian Kennedy) tells me I haven’t been here since the early eighties.”
Riding at Sligo for the first time in five years, Johnny Murtagh brought the Eddie Lynam trained Iron Major from last to first to land the Foley’s Bar & Off Licence Handicap, catching favourite Maarek close home to score by a neck.
Iron Major was completing a hat-trick following wins at Dundalk and Galway. And, in the absence of the winning trainer, Murtagh commented: “After Galway, I thought he’d win tonight but, after a hundred yards, I wasn’t so sure. He was outpaced all the way but I knew that, if he saw daylight he’d pick up well. And he did. Eddie (Lynam) though a lot of him as a two-year-old, but it has taken this long for him to fulfil his potential.”
Oxx and Murtagh were denied a double when Swampfire failed to cope with the well-in Galway winner Teach Nua in the finale, the Sligo Park Hotel Handicap.
Teach Nua, one of Dermot Weld’s 17 winners at Galway last week, received a 10lb. hike in the ratings on the back of his success at Ballybrit but raced here with only a mandatory 5lb. penalty, nullified by Leigh Roche’s claim.
Suited by a strong gallop, Teach Nua tracked the leaders before challenging on the home-turn, taking command and winning cosily by a half-length from Swampfire, giving Roche his thirteenth success of the season.
Earlier, Roche had picked up a two-day careless riding ban following an incident involving his mount Asiya and Gypsie Queen in the Connacht Oaks.
Always a force at Sligo, Pat Martin saddled Annie Ok, well-ridden by apprentice Conor Hoban, to win the Ladies Day At Sligo August 4th Nursery at the expense of the other joint-favourite and top-weight Coolnagree.
