Cap peaks as she makes breakthrough
The Selkirk filly, the second leg of a double for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen, had to battle through the final two furlongs to get the better of front-running three-year-old We’ll Go Walking by a half-length. The pair finished eight lengths clear of third-placed Aloof.
Weld commented: “They are two nice fllies and you’ll find the second is smart as well. This is a very good filly and she did it well. I think the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes (Group 3) at the Curragh on Guineas weekend is the logical follow-on for her.
“As the season progresses, I hope to build to Group 1 status with her.”
Meanwhile, Jim Bolger said of the runner-up, an impressive winner on her debut on this track earlier this month: “She’ll go for a stakes race over a mile and a half and might stay further in time. She might be an Irish Oaks filly.”
Weld and Smullen had initiated the Rosewell double when Lucky Kitten, helped by a fast pace, came from well off the pace to register an ultimately emphatic three-and-a-quarter lengths win in the www.gowranpark.ie Handicap.
“They went very quick, which suited and Pat took his time,” said the winning trainer.
Out of luck with We’ll Go Walking, Jim Bolger matched the Weld double when saddling Tobann and An Saincheann to record significant maiden successes.
Tobann, which “lost the plot the last day” (according to her trainer), was helped by the presence of a pony going to the start ahead of scoring a convincing seven lengths win in the seven-furlong opening Fabulous Fillies Packages Maiden. “She was one of the lightest fillies in the race and I was surprised she handled the ground so well,” explained Bolger. “She’s in the Athasi Stakes at the Curragh and I’ll probably be tempted to run her.”
Even more impressive was the four-year-old An Saincheaan, third in listed company at the end of last season, which slammed the Weld-trained favourite Sharp Crisp Air by no less than thirteen lengths in the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden.
Bolger stated: “She’s a good mare, a late developer that missed out on her maiden last year. The hood probably helped her and we’ll be going the black type route with her now.”
The Weld/Smullen partnership also came off second best in the concluding colts’ maiden, when 5/2 joint-favourite Ghaamer, in front from the two-furlong pole, was caught late by the Ger Lyons-trained newcomer Safe Home.
The 25/1 shot, ridden by Gary Carroll, got up to win by a neck, prompting Lyons to comment: “Mine don’t usually go on that ground. But they’re re all ready to run and we decided to start a few here today. This fellow is a Danehill Dancer and has a high knee-action. He seemed to handle it well and should improve for the run and, if he does, he should develop into a nice horse.”
The Michael Halford-trained Ondeafears came from last to first under Shane Foley to defy top-weight in the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Handicap, getting an opening inside the final furlong to catch and beat Core Element by a half-length with Flic Flac a similar distance away third.
“She’s very genuine and the gap appeared just in time,” said Halford. “You have to ride her that way — she takes time to warm up and find her stride. Seven furlongs is a nice trip for her and this was a lovely pot. I’m thrilled for her owner-breeder (Carol Roper).
“We’ll keep an eye o the ground — she needs a bit of cut and we’ll probably go back and compete at listed level again now.”
The divisions of the 47-65 handicap went to the Charles O’Brien’s Hurricane Sky and John Murphy’s Benalex Park, the latter justifying 5/2 favouritism in the hands of promising apprentice Conor King, who was riding his fourth winner.
Murphy commented: “Seamie (Heffernan) said he was very unlucky the last day in Leopardstown, that he got boxed-in on the rail. I’ve been very impressed with this young lad (King) — he gave the horse a beautiful patient ride and got there at just the right time. He told me the horse might stay a bit further.”
Earlier, Fran Berry produced the J P McManus-owned Hurricane Sky inside the final furlong to land the first division at the expense of Only Exception, prompting trainer Charles O’Brien to explain: “He bumped into a good one in Ballinrobe last year and deserved to get his head in front.
“He’s big and backward and it took an age for the penny to drop, both mentally and physically. This is his level and we’ll mix it with him, hurdles and flat, for the summer.”
