Ahaaly set for bigger things after easy maiden win
The Exceed And Excel filly displayed commendable speed throughout the six-furlong contest and readily stretched clear to slam Wasabi’s House by three and a half lengths, to the delight of winning rider Declan McDonogh, who suggested: “I suppose she was entitled to win on her run in Limerick, but she could be nice.”
He added: “She’s a well-bred filly and should be capable of progressing from this. She used to be quite hot at home, but she seems to be settling down and won well. I’m not sure where the boss will go with her, but she should be competitive at a higher level.”
Successful in a six-furlong maiden on the track last November, the Ger Lyons-trained Piri Wango and Johnny Murtagh defied joint top-weight in the bookings’dundalkstadium.com 3-Y-0 Handicap, dictating the pace before getting the better of well-backed favourite Caprella (Chris Hayes) by a head after a titanic tussle through the final two furlongs.
Lyons said: “The handicapper is never far wrong and you have to trust his judgement. I said last year that this horse could be a listed performer. I have the Britannia Handicap in Royal Ascot in mind for him, with another run before then. I wasn’t confident tonight and it wasn’t ideal to give him a hard race. But I couldn’t find an alternative race for him.”
In a dramatic finish to the Fundraising Made Easy At Dundalk Handicap, with less than two lengths covering the first six home, the Michael Halford-trained Barrow Island proved best, getting up close home to foil Knockgraffon Lad by a half-length in a blanket-finish.
Barrow Island was a first winner for Shane ‘Dusty’ Foley since he was confirmed as stable-jockey to Halford, who commented: “Shane gave him a great ride. This fellow was outpaced at Leopardstown the last day, but came home well. It was the same tonight. Luckily, the gaps came when he needed them. Maybe we should step him up in trip.”
It was a night to remember for trainer Paddy Twomey, who is based in Athassel House Stud near Golden, County Tipperary as he saddled his first winner, with his first runner — 28/1 shot Hunting Goddess — which landed the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden.
Ridden by Billy Lee, the Galileo filly, whose only previous run was for Joanna Morgan at Dundalk last October, edged ahead approaching the furlong-pole before beating Opa Loca by a length and a quarter.
Twomey confirmed: “I only got my licence last Tuesday and this was my first runner so I’m delighted. Don’t ask me where she’ll go next. This was the plan and I haven’t looked beyond today.”
A more renowned handler from the same area, Tommy Stack, was on the mark when Dykanbaru, fourth to Dawn Approach at the Curragh on his debut, outpointed three rivals in the opening two-year-old maiden.
Ridden by Wayne Lordan, the Footstepsinthesand colt won readily from Versilia Gal, prompting Fozzy Stack to state: “I’m delighted for his owner David Slater. He was involved with this fellow’s dam Nubar Lady and this was the only foal she had before she died. He learned a bit from his Curragh run and will probably go for a winners of one in Tipperary.
Lordan, leading rider during the winter season at Dundalk, completed a double when partnering 11/8 favourite Aloof, trained by David Wachman, to a comfortable all-the-way win in the finale, the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Race, the 1000th race run at Dundalk since its opening back in 2007.
The Galileo filly, winner of her maiden on the track last November, dictated the pace and never looked in danger, coming home almost five lengths clear of Madhmoonah. She’ll now step into stakes company.
