Stunning success for Shark in maiden
On an extremely blustery afternoon, the well-touted newcomer Stowaway Shark had many of those present searching for previously unused superlatives following his stunning success in the four-year-old maiden.
The ‘Shark’ Hanlon-trained Stowaway Shark (3/1) was challenged by favourite Not Now Sylvio coming to the last. The latter led briefly away from this fence when Stowaway Shark blundered badly here. The eventual winner though was soon back on an even keel and he stayed on stoutly to beat Sam Curling’s Not Now Sylvio by one and a half lengths with a 12-length break to the third-placed Deputy’s Pass.
“I said before the race that this was the best horse that I ever trained, he did a superb piece of work last Saturday,” said Hanlon of Stowaway Shark, a close relation to Annie Power. “This fellow is for sale and I’d love to keep him in the yard. ”
Stowaway Shark’s rider ‘Corky’ Carroll completed a first and last race double for he was also on the mark aboard Joey Casey’s Driftashore in the closing six-year-old and upwards maiden. Well-supported on his debut when getting brought down four out at Loughrea a fortnight earlier, Driftashore was once again popular in the market hardening from 6/1 into 9/2. The victorious son of Jackson’s Drift, having always travelled smoothly, eased into the lead after the penultimate of the 16 obstacles to dispose of Diamondgeezerluke by a comprehensive eight lengths. It would appear that Driftashore, a horse that sustained a tendon injury as a four-year, should have little difficulty in developing into a track winner over middle distances.
Kevin Power likewise partnered two winners, the Bruff native however will seldom partner a more fortunate winner than he did aboard Enda Bolger’s Near Perfection (7/4) in the five-runner open lightweight. The Hollinwell eased past long-time leader Near Perfection after the second last and the former four-time British track winner was clearly possessing all the aces, holding a two-length advantage, when blundering at the final fence and then cruelly unseating his rider a couple of strides after. Near Perfection was the one to take advantage and the JP McManus-owned eight-year-old then dismissed his stable-companion Quiscover Fontaine, who had to be rousted along from five out, by 20 lengths.
Power meanwhile experienced a virtual armchair mount aboard Our Cat (5/2) who destroyed the opposition by making all the running in the five-year-old mares’ maiden. The Aidan Fitzgerald-trained Our Cat, placed on three occasions last term, duly beat market-leader Fanisk Bound by 10 lengths.
On an afternoon that saw all six favourites getting beaten, Fanisk Bound’s rider Derek O’Connor didn’t leave empty-handed for the Galwegian combined with long-standing ally Sean Aherne to collect the winners of one with Harpor (5/2).
