Donnacha’s day as youngster ‘completes set’ for O’Brien family
O’Brien (16), who recently began sixth year in Rockwell College, was ‘completing the set’ for the O’Brien family as both his father Aidan and mother Anne Marie were accomplished amateur riders while the achievements of his siblings, champion-jockey Joseph and sisters Sarah (amateur) and Ana (apprentice), have been well-documented.
And the youngest of the clan needed to be at his strongest to get the 4/6 favourite home, prompting his proud father to comment: “It‘s great to get it and I’m delighted for him. He had a bad fall in Wexford in one of his first rides, but was very lucky. He’s a big lad but, at the moment, he’s able to claim 10lb. off 9-5. It’s an important day for all of us.”
No joy earlier for Joseph on odds-on favourite General Marshal in the www.dundalkstadium.com 2-Y-0 Maiden as the 4/5 shot was collared inside the final furlong and beaten threequarters of a length by the Jessica Harrington-trained filly Lola Beaux, ridden by Fran Berry.
The winning trainer explained: “She was mugged the first day in Tipperary, when she was in front too long, but she came on from that run. This time, she had something to run at and stuck at it well. She’s a lovely, straight-forward filly and will probably run in the CL Weld (Group 3 at the Curragh on September 28).”
British speedster Caspian Prince, trained by Tony Carroll, which numbered a win in the Epsom Dash among his four previous successes this season, captured the opening Dundalk Stadium race over five furlongs, racing prominently throughout and running on strongly for Luke Morris to beat slow starter Flight Risk by a length and a quarter.
Morris stated: “He’s a decent horse. He has a lot of early boot and serious speed. And he needs fast ground, so I’d say that will decide where he goes.”
Blinkered for the first time, top weight and favourite Dandyleekie made a bold bid to make all in the featured premier nursery but succumbed to the late flourish of the Tommy Stack-ridden filly Folk Law, which was getting off the mark at the fourth attempt.
The Arcano filly prevailed by a half length. And her rider, Wayne Lordan, said: “She had a good run in a listed race last time, when she made the running. I thought she’d be better getting a lead and everything worked out well for her.”
A trip to Ayr on Gold Cup day for a two-mile handicap followed by a tilt at the Irish Cesarewitch is planned by Adrian Keatley for Carraroe Flyer following her emphatic victory over top weight Notable Graduate in the finale, the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Handicap.
Fergal Lynch brought the Johnny Levins-trained Havelock Ellis from last to first to land the second division of the 47-65 one-mile handicap, the first division having gone to top-weight Hilary, ridden for Gerry Stack by apprentice Killian Hennessy.
*Apprentice Michael Jones was in hot water with the stewards following his ride on Charlie Swan’s Emiest Rose in the two-year-old maiden.
Swan acknowledged that the claimer “had got it all wrong,” due to his inexperience. And the stewards felt Jones had not made sufficient effort to attain the best possible position. They suspended him for seven days.
