Zuzka continues Mullins’ great run
A thirteenth winner for the Supreme Horse Racing Club, the Flemensfirth mare asserted between the last two flights and sauntered home six-and-a-half lengths clear of Cool Annie.
Zuzka provided trainer Mullins with his ninth winner in a week and Ruby commented: “She’s a lovely mare and jumped brilliantly, with the exception of stepping at the third last.
“She’s very laid-back, but was a bit wayward when she was in front on her own.”
Front-running tactics were successful in a number of races, including the opening Family Day At Sligo Maiden Hurdle won emphatically by the Paul Flynn-trained Liberty’s Gift, enterprisingly ridden by Mick Darcy.
Flynn explained: “I was going to wait for the Lartigue in Listowel, but decided to come here on the way. He’s better going left-handed, although he might go to Galway now, for either the four-year-old hurdle on the Monday or a flat handicap.”
Galway is also on the agenda for Mount Colah, which made most of the running to win the Irish Stallion Farms Novice Hurdle for Jerry Cosgrave and amateur rider Noel McParlan before surviving a Stewards Enquiry. In foal to Zebadee, Our Nana Rose might be Galway-bound too, after her battling win in the Guinness Handicap Hurdle, continuing trainer Pat Martin’s rich vein of form.
A more immediate target, at Killarney on Thursday, is planned by Gordon Elliott for Bondage which short-headed Face Facts in the opportunity riders’ event.
A morning gamble, the 7/4 favourite held the race in an enquiry, although rider Keith Donoghue was banned for one day for careless riding.
Tony Mulholland, formerly based in England but now training in Cootehill, Co. Cavan, registered his first success in Ireland when 25/1 shot Polish Partisan bolted up in the bumper.
