Fortuitous success for King on Ancient Sands
King had left the track, having ridden Focussed in the earlier premier nursery, when contacted to partner the Joanna Morgan-trained five-year-old after his intended rider Christy Geoghegan was unable to do the weight, a situation at least partly due to a power failure at the track which rendered the sauna useless.
Ancient Sands, a winner at the Curragh on Tuesday, duly delivered — completing a four-timer — at the expense of the progressive three-year-old Stony Grey, to the delight of his trainer. “It was my birthday yesterday and this is a bonus. I though this fellow was a 75-horse, not a 90. He’s improving all the time and has so much confidence in himself — I honestly don’t know why.
“He needs good ground and I wasn’t sure he’d be as effective out there today. I entered him in the Leopardstown November, so he could go there. He’s only rated 115 over hurdles, so he should have a good day when he goes back to that game.”
Winner of her maiden, belatedly, over course and distance in August, the Tommy Stack-trained Wannabe Better notched her second listed success when bolting up under Wayne Lordan in the Clodovil Garnet Stakes.
“She has always shown ability at home and likes it around here,” said Fozzy Stack. “She got confidence from her maiden win here and it’s great she has won two listed races. She was clearly in season when we were saddling her, but it didn’t make any difference. I don’t know if she’ll stay in training.”
Beaten in a similar event at Listowel, the David Wachman-trained Hidden Oasis (Fran Berry) defied top-weight and justified 15/8 favouritism in the Birdcatcher Premier Nursery, run for the first time over seven furlongs.
The grey got the better of Focussed by a half-length in a blanket-finish. His trainer paid tribute to Berry’s handling of the gelding and added: “He seemed to handle the easy ground well, but would be competitive on better. He’ll campaign in stakes races next year.”
Our of luck with favourite Rasmeyaa in the listed race, Dermot Weld had earlier landed the two-year-old fillies maiden with Vote Often, which powered up the hill to beat Ballydoyle favourite Beyond Brilliance by over four lengths.
“She’s a big, staying filly and handled the ground well,” said Weld. “She was under a bit of pressure but galloped well to the line. She definitely has the potential to be a stakes filly next year, over a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half.”
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Johann Strauss was beaten at 2/7 in the opening colts’ maiden, failing to get to the Colin Keane-ridden Sniper, which made all to score for Ger Lyons, whose brother Shane commented: “We’ve always thought a lot of him and that ground probably suited him. He’s entered in the Newmarket Sales, but I’m not sure what the plan is for him. He’s a horse for the future.”
Fiona Mullins, niece of trainer Willie, made it three wins from four rides when Goldboy followed-up his recent Clonmel win in the winners’ bumper, getting the better of front-running Yes Sir Brian.
