Tropical lands tasty touch
When Little King Robin kicked away after the third last, she looked the most likely winner.
But Barry Geraghty soon got stuck into Tropical Three and she didn’t half answer the call.
Gradually, she wore down the leader, challenged strongly at the final flight and was soon in front to score by a length and a half.
Said Hourigan: “It was her first run coming in off grass and I was worried about taking on fit horses. She is only in since July 1.
“This is a classy filly and I will give her a bit of a break now. She is crying out for further than two miles.”
Jim Bolger’s Chroussa, available as high as 5-2 in the morning and taken from 6-4 to 6-5 on track, ran away with the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden.
She had the best of the draw in two and was out and away in a flash to make all under Kevin Manning and score by four and a half lengths.
Ger Flynn represented Bolger and reported: “Kevin was delighted with her and said she handled the ground okay. We will now see if we can get some black type.”
Bolger and Manning completed a double when the hitherto disappointing Fulminata came good in style in the Listowel Track Fillies Maiden.
Manning set the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor alight approaching the furlong pole and she stretched right away to beat Mischief N Mayhem by six lengths.
The valuable Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Premier Nursery was won in game fashion by Aidan O’Brien’s Mekong River.
He wasn’t the fastest out of the gate and was being ridden along a fair way out by Joseph O’Brien.
But he kept responding and then found an opening the straight to ease away from the flattering favourite, Hidden Oasis.
Commented Joseph: “He’s improving with racing and is a grand horse, laid back. He was slowly away and I was hoping to be handier. I was lucky enough to get a gap.”
John Kiely’s newcomer, Toe The Line, powered through at the furlong pole for Derek O’Connor to land the Bumper.
The daughter of Shantou is the first horse Kiely has trained for owner Alan Lillingston, who rode the winner of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in 1963, the one-eyed Winning Fair, trained by Jamie Spencer’s late father, George.
Said Kiely: “It is a pleasure to train for that man, he was my idol. He was a great rider, a great event rider, a brilliant horseman.”
Willie McCreery continued his fine form when Hail Shower took the Feale Handicap to the tune of six lengths.
Partnered by Wayne Lordan, she skipped ahead over a furlong down and was quickly in total control.
Said McCreery: “We thought six (furlongs) would suit, she got a very positive ride from Wayne, he made her mind up. She is in the sales next month, but will come back here on Friday first.”
Bryan Cooper continued his excellent return to racing when guiding Pink Coat to a smooth success in the Cashen Handicap Hurdle.
Far from neglected in the market, Pink Coat skipped clear early in the straight to win with plenty in hand.
Tony Martin’s Galloping Gander went off a well backed favourite, but never threatened to get in a blow, finishing a never dangerous fifth.
