Beau Amadeus breaks his duck in style
Ridden for the first time by Wayne Lordan, the 14/1 shot came from last to first to land the spoils by two lengths from Srucahan.
A delighted McGuinness commented: “He’s been unlucky and should won his maiden long before this. But he’s been getting his act together. He’s tough and had to be today — he was the first horse off the bridle but stuck at it.”
Forced to withdraw Manieree from the listed Garnet Stakes due to a minor setback on Saturday, John Oxx won the opening Tifrums 2-Y-0 Maiden with promising debutant Sambusca, which justified strong support (3/1 to 7/4) in beating chief market-rival Hongkong Dancer by two lengths.
Oxx explained: “He’s a nice colt, although Johnny (Murtagh) felt the ground was a bit sticky for him. He has a good temperament and would definitely appreciate better ground. The Killavullan Stakes at Leopqrdstown (already the stated target for stable-companions Born Top Sea and Akeed Wafi) is the only race left for him. If he doesn’t go there, we’ll wait for next year with him.”
Sambusca is owned by Louis Walshe from County Waterford, who bought the Green Desert colt as a foal with a view to reselling but ended up putting him into training.
Kevin Prendergast and Declan McDonogh shared a double, Bulbul getting off the mark in the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden before the classy Handassa (backed from 11/2 to 7/2 favourite) returned to form with a convincing win in the listed Garnet Stakes.
In the colours of Hamdan Al Maktoum, the Dubawi filly, which finished eighth in the Irish 1,000 Guineas back in May, came up the hill strongly to beat Hurricane Havoc by two lengths.
“She loves easy ground and must have it,” declared Prendergast. “She ran in Gowran last time, when the ground was supposed to be good to yielding, bit it was like the road and she didn’t race at all. She’s a smart filly when conditions are right.”
Sixth to Lady Wingshot on her debut at Leopardstown in August, the Shamardal filly Bulbul initiated the Prendergast/McDonogh double when proving an impressive winner of the two-year-old fillies maiden, quickening well to take command and stretching clear to beat favourite Bird’s Eye View by almost five lengths.
“She’s a good filly and will have no problem staying a mile next year, because she settles, well,” commented Prendergast. “She won well and the next time you see her will be in a Guineas trial at Leopardstown in the spring.”
Dermot Weld won the Naas October Handicap with the progressive three-year-old Celebrity Sevi which, challenging widest of all under Pat Smullen, saw off Highly Efficient by two and a half lengths.
