Roicead scorches to an easy success
On an evening when the intelligent decision to allow free admission saw a healthy attendance, the rapidly improving Roicead was the star of the show.
Willie Supple allowed the four-year-old to lead over a furlong down and Roicead stretched away to beat Nocturnal Affair by two lengths.
Duke, who trained in England for ten years, said: “I’m glad I came home, you could not pay your bills over there with the level of prizemoney.
“I’m just delighted to get my hands on a special horse. He goes swimming, not because he has to, but because he’s like Flipper.
“He will go for a premier handicap at the Curragh on September 10, Leger day, and I think we will leave at that for the season.”
Pat Smullen produced Willie McCreery’s Batchelors Star with perfect timing to take the Follow Us On Facebook Maiden.
Favourite, Ballroom, ran fast for much of the journey, but had no answer to the winner once tackled inside the furlong pole.
Fred Fenster stayed on to claim second, half a length adrift of Batchelors Star, after Keagan Latham had dropped his whip in the closing stages.
Said McCreery: “I’m delighted with that, Pat gave him a lovely ride. Everything went to plan, he loves attacking a horse.”
David Wachman, absent at the sales in Deauville, missed seeing his previously once-raced Limetree Lady outclass her rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden.
Quickly into her stride, the daughter of Selkirk — partnered by Wayne Lordan — was in complete control from the two furlong pole to score by seven lengths.
Wachman was represented by Lordan’s agent, Ryan McElligott, who indicated that Limetree Lady would be stepped up to Stakes company next time.
A lot of the Ballydoyle horses are currently struggling to get home, but that was not the case with Lake Ontario in the Mallow.ie Race.
He found plenty for Seamus Heffernan pressure to lead with less than a furlong to go and comfortably beat Cocozza, who is rapidly becoming one to avoid.
Fears about the well-being of the Ballydoyle camp were surely washed away when Wrote completed a double for Aidan O’Brien in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Median Auction Maiden.
Partnered by O’Brien’s son, Joseph, who put up 2lbs overweight, the son of High Chaparral grabbed the advantage in the final stride to short head Alkazim.
Commented O’Brien junior: “He’s a lovely horse, but we went very, very slowly and he did well to win.”
Fran Berry conjured a late surge from 14-1 shot Jills Ballet to beat Mama Rosa in the Mount Hillary Race.
Trainer, Prunella Dobbs, reported: “She’s very genuine, but did a tendon in 2009 and was out for two years.”
Berry was on the mark again in the next, the first division of The follow Us On Twitter Handicap, arriving late aboard Lombrici to deny the always prominent favourite, Secret Hero. The verdict was a short head and the price 14-1 for a 124-1 Berry double.
The second section of the same contest saw Niall O’Callaghan enjoy a welcome change of luck when his Takeover Bid battled on resolutely for Willie Supple to hold the sustained challenge of Bonnie Acclamation.
It was a first success for O’Callaghan since this horse won the same race a year ago. Based at Kilmichael, Co Cork, he trained for many years in America.
“It’s been a struggle, but I’ve collected up a few handy horses and might produce them later in the year”, said O’Callaghan.
On a night of doubles, Supple was adding to his gains aboard Roicead in the feature.
