Tannery skins rivals in McCalmont
The Dylan Thomas filly, sent off 12/1 third favourite, proved a length and a half too strong for the only other three-year-old in the field, Soon, with the odds-on favourite, Chrysanthemum, a stable companion of the Niall McCullagh-ridden winner, a well-beaten third.
“That was grand,” said Wachman afterwards. “I’d say the three-year-old weight allowance (14lb.) was a big advantage. They went a good gallop up front and she handled the ground.
“This filly has always shown plenty at home. But she’s a big girl and only beginning to strengthen up. It’s nice to win a stakes race with her. There are plenty of fillies races coming up for her.
“She should stay up to a mile and a half.”
Favourite Chrysanthemum, a already a dual-winner this season, looked the likely winner turning for home before weakening while her only serious market rival, Zaminast, flopped again, trailing in last of the seven runners.
Wachman completed a double when Oh Happy Days, (14/1 stable second-string — he also saddled 5/4 favourite Queenscliff) got up close home to foil Summer Knight in the Follow Gowran Park On Facebook Handicap.
The winning trainer paid tribute to Billy Lee’s handling of the Galileo filly: “Billy gave her a great ride. He gave her a chance and just crept and crept. We’ll try to find another similar handicap for her.”
Dermot Weld put thoughts of Zaminast behind him when the Selkirk filly Caponata, in the colours of Khalid Abdullah, made a successful debut in the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden, romping home a five and a half lengths winner from Something Graceful.
Ridden by stable-jockey Pat Smullen, Caponata cruised past favourite Wonderful early in the straight before drawing clear to win in the style of a potentially high-class performer.
Weld commented: “She’s a lovely, big filly and did it nicely. She won very easily and is one for the future.”
