Keeping wins but then lets wild side show
Ridden by Emmet McNamara, the Teofilo filly, in the colours of Sheikh Mohammed made virtually all and prevailed by three-quarters of a length before unseating McNamara, running loose and completing two circuits of the track.
Shane Lyons, representing his brother, said: “She’s a lovely, good-actioned filly and, as you saw, is still a bit green. She did well over the winter and is one to look forward to over middle distances.”
McNamara completed a double when the Gordon Elliott-trained second favourite Bayan, successful over hurdles in Cork last time, justified hefty support in the finale, the Dundalk Stadium On Facebook Maiden, getting the better of longshots Saga Barbara and Catchy Lass.
Pearl Of Africa was produced with a perfectly-timed challenge by Fran Berry to foil favourite Harpist in the earlier Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden over a mile.
Trainer Eddie Lynam said: “It’s great to have a winner for Sheikh Fahad (of Pearl Bloodstock). She did it well.”
Lynam was back in the winner’s enclosure after Sylvan Mist landed the Hen & Stag Packages At Dundalk Stadium Handicap under Fergal Lynch.
But he described the outcome as a “a hollow victory” after trail-blazing Toberton, headed by the winner inside the final furlong clipped heels and suffered a fatal fall more than 50 yards from the winning-post.
His rider, apprentice Luke Dempsey was reported to be “dazed” by on-duty doctor John Kennedy” and was removed to hospital in Drogheda for examination.
Another jockey in the wars was Kevin Manning, lucky to emerge “shaken and sore” after his mount Something Graceful clipped heels and unseated him approaching the furlong-pole in the featured www.dundlakstadium.com Handicap.
The race was won by the Sam James-ridden Raydari, continuing the fine strike-rate of trainer Rodger Sweeney. The five-year-old got the better of PaddyThe Celeb by a half-length.
Sweeney said: “Sam gets on well with him. And he likes it around here. We’ll try to find and another one for him.”
Trainer James Nash registered his first win since October when Our Manekineko and Pat Smullen justified hefty support and 11/10 favourite in the Dundalk Stadium Handicap.
And, 16lb. lower than his last winning mark (in December 2011), the Garvan Donnelly-trained Home Secretary (Shane Foley) returned to winning form when foiling longshot The Black Devil in the DKIT Students Race Night Handicap.
