Midnight Soprano on song
After British raider Eternal Heart made the running, in ground which deteriorated through the day to ‘Heavy’, the ‘Savael Beg, developed into something of a sprint up the straight and saw the rapidly improving Midnight Soprano, ridden by Chris Hayes, hold Saddler’s Rock by a half-length with Unaccompanied a length away third. The result remained unchanged after a Stewards Enquiry.
A delighted Paul Deegan stated: “She’s a special mare and I still don’t know how good she is. Like her sister (Celtic Soprano), she’s really light-framed and does absolutely nothing at home. But she has a bit of class about her and keeps improving.
“The plan after the Curragh was to go for the ‘Noblesse’ in Cork but, when this race cut up, we decided to come here. She’ll probably go for the ‘Martin Momolny’ in Limerick next.”
John Oxx and Johnny Murtagh, delighted by Saddler’s Rock’s run en route to the Ascot Gold Cup, were in the winner’s enclosure later when Handazan made all for an impressive eight lengths win in the finale. The listed Lenebane Stakes in Roscommon beckons for the Nayef colt.
The progressive, 97-rated Backbench Blues proved a convincing winner of the listed Nijinsky 3-Y-0 Stakes, despite hanging violently right and across the track in the final furlong.
The 10/1 shot triumphed by almost four lengths from Macbeth and his rider Fran Berry explained: “Joseph O’Brien’s horse (2/1 favourite Tower Rock) stopped and left me a bit isolated in front. When he started to go, there was nothing I could do and, once he was still going forward, I was happy enough.
“It was probably a combination of seeing the wide open spaces and knowing where the horse-gate is. But there was still plenty in the tank.”
Joseph O’Brien later reported that Tower Rock, which he virtually pulled up in the final furlong, “never travelled” and lost a shoe in running. He was later found to be lame.
Fran Berry was on the mark again in the following RSM Farrell Grant Sparks Handicap when Louisville Lip, in the colours of J P McManus, proved too strong for Beau Michael and Knockcroghery.
The Pat Flynn-trained five-year-old was recording his first success on the flat and his owner’s representative Frank Berry commented: “He’s been a bit disappointing over hurdles, but will go back over them now. He’ll tip away for the summer, although Fran said he loved that ground.”
Having his fourth run, the Jim Bolger-trained Einsteins Folly (Kevin Manning) made virtually all to turn over odds-on favourite Count Of Limonade in the opening two-year-old maiden, two lengths separating the pair at the line.
“He’s a good sort,” commented Bolger. “But he’s a very slow learner and it was the run in Dundalk that set him up.
“He can operate from six furlongs to a mile and will probably run in a listed race next.”
