Shamooda gets up under inspired Murtagh
The Azamour filly Shamooda, in the colours of the Aga Khan, got up on the line under an inspired Murtagh ride to beat the flattering Security Breach by a nose in the Special Rates For Groups Handicap, with hot favourite Fluidity a close third after running keenly and flattering to deceive.
Jim O’Neill, assistant to winning trainer John Oxx, declared: “That’s one for the jockey. A brilliant ride!” before adding: “This filly is becoming a bit of a party-pooper.”
O’Neill was referring to her defeat of apparent handicap snip and 2/9 favourite Time Of My Life at Roscommon last month, followed by this victory in a race for which favourite Fluidity was 11lb. well-in after his impressive win at Navan last Saturday.
He added: “We were a bit worried about the ground, but she coped with conditions well. She’s tough and stays well and will probably go for another similar handicap.”
The Murtagh/Oxx double was completed when Hay Point, owned by Sheikh Mohammed, got the better of favourite Warwick Avenue in the concluding Wednesday Evening Racing At Fairyhouse Handicap.
Joseph O’Brien dictated the pace on the favourite and appeared to have things under control passing the two-furlong pole. But, when the race developed into a battle, the Murtagh ridden filly Hay Point ran straight and true while Warwick Avenue hung left and then right, under pressure, hampering the winner inside the final furlong.
Two lengths separated the pair at the line. O’Neill commented: “She was very green the first day at the Curragh and had come on a bit since then. We were worried about the ground, but Johnny said she handled it well.
“We’ll see what handicap mark she gets and take it from there. She’s a filly that stays well.”
Stepping-up on her debut run behind Cristoforo Colombo at the Curragh, the Eddie Lynam-trained Boston Rocker opened her account under Shane Foley in the opening two-year-old auction maiden.
The Acclamation filly, in the colours of Lady O’Reilly, made all before holding Ger Lyons’ debutant Lightnin Hopkins by a half-length, prompting trainer Lynam to comment: “She’s a very well-bred filly, so it’s good to win with her. I’d say we’ll try a listed race now.”
The Harry Rogers-trained Elusive Ridge, better known for his exploits at Dundalk, landed the seven-furlong jogforjockeys.ie Race under a strong ride from Pat Smullen, edging past front-running Banna Boirche two furlongs out and responding to pressure to hold that rival by a half-length.
Winning trainer Rogers admitted: “The ground (officially changed to ‘soft’ after the race) mustn’t be too bad, when that fellow got away with it. He was sore after the Curragh — ‘good’ at the Curragh is a bit different to Dundalk. But he won well today and Pat was very good on him. He’s unlikely to run again in Leopardstown tomorrow, but we’ll see how he is in the morning.”
David Marnane welcomed the rain following the victory of 16/1 shot July Revolution and Fergal Lynch in the fairyhouse.ie Handicap.
“It’s great to have a winner for Malih (Malih Lahej Al Basti) — he’s a great supporter of the yard and has ten or eleven horses with me,” said Marnane, “This horse was slow to mature and, by Cape Cross, appreciated the softer ground., Hopefully, the handicapper won’t be too harsh on him.”
An entry for the Ascot Stakes in Royal Ascot on Tuesday (but with no chance of making the cut), 61-rated Lough Ferrib landed the first division of the Ratoath Handicap for veteran County Clare handler John Hassett.
Ridden by in-form apprentice Leigh Roche, the tough eleven-year-old stayed on dourly to beat Asian Wing by a length. Hassett conceded: “The Ascot entry was a dream. He’ll go to Cork for a 0-65 on Sunday instead, with a mandatory penalty. He’s a versatile horse and, at his age, it’s great to win with him.”
The second division went to the father and son combination of Gerry and Colin Keane with top-weight The Fox Tully, which came through at the furlong-pole to win well from Waltzing Cat.
The successful trainer commented: “It looked as if he wasn’t travelling early. But Colin said that, when he gave him a smack, he picked up well. I thought he’d win before now and felt he left it behind him here last week — he went up 6lb. for finishing second.
“He’s in a similar handicap in Sligo next Tuesday and will probably take his chance, if he’s okay. After that, he’ll be due a break. He jumps well and will go hurdling later in the year.”
