Change looks a potential star

On a night when Michael Halford and Shane Foley continued in top form with a 64/1 treble, Plus Ca Change looked a potential stakes-class performer when justifying 5/6 favouritism in the opening Irish Stallion farms 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden in Dundalk.

The Ger Lyons-trained daughter of Invincible Spirit, a promising fifth on her debut in a hot Leopardstown maiden, was strongly supported all day and gave her supporters few worries, edging ahead with almost a furlong and a half to race before forging clear to beat market rival Maira by three and a quarter lengths.

“She had a nice first run in Leopardstown and we intended putting her away,” explained Lyons. “But her owner was keen to win with her as a two-year-old and this was the obvious place to come. That was fairly straight-forward tonight and she’s a filly we like, hopefully a black-type filly for next year.”

Winning rider Colin Keane added: “She’s still very green and will improve plenty from tonight. She’s very relaxed and takes everything in her stride. She stays well and, next year, the further she goes, the better she should be.”

Lyons and Keane were expected to double-up with well-touted 4/11 debutant Game Set Dash in the colts’ maiden. But the Arch colt couldn’t cope with the experienced Wychwood Warrior, which made all to score by two and a quarter lengths from the favourite, sparking the Halford/Foley treble.

Shane Foley commented: “With a low draw and experience on his side, I decided to let him use his stride. We went a nice gallop and there was no hiding place – I wanted to get the favourite off the bridle as early as I could. This colt disappointed us the last day. But he brought his good home work to the track tonight.”

Halford confirmed: “I knew he had come forward from his last run here – it was a windy night and he didn’t settle. He had experience on his side tonight and we decided to let him go on. He should improve again and will be a lovely three-year-old.”

The powerful Halford/Foley combination struck again when Whaileyy, winner of a claimer over course and distance last week, defied top-weight in the seven-furlong Dundalk Stadium – Light Up Your Night Handicap, wearing down fellow 9/4 joint-favourite Indian Landing to score by three-quarters of a length.

The trainer commented: “He’s tough and very genuine. There wasn’t much room down the inside but, when Shane switched him out, he picked up well. Shane said he was always confident he’d get there.”

Foley picked-up a two-day whip ban for careless riding on Whaileyy, but was seen at his strongest and most determined when Tamasek Star belatedly opened his account in the finale the www.dunmdalkstadium.com Handicap, completing the treble for trainer and rider.

A three-year-old Soviet Star gelding, Tamasek Star scraped home by a short-head from Elusiva Laurence, giving Foley his tenth win of the winter season at Dundalk.

Back from his trip to Australia, which yielded a listed win on Reparations for Godolphin but major disappointment with sprinting star Slade Power, Wayne Lordan was on the mark when the Tommy Stack-trained Sirikoi confirmed Fairyhouse form with Emiest Rose in the www.dundalkstadium.com Maiden.

The 1/2 favourite, a daughter of Myboycharlie, kept going well to score by a length and a quarter, prompting Lordan to explain: “The six furlongs was a bit on the sharp side the last day and tonight, over seven, she got into a comfortable rhythm. She’s quite a big filly, but shows plenty of pace at home and never does a whole pile in front. She should keep improving and will stay a mile next year.”

Up 11lb for a course and distance win last Wednesday, the John McConnell-trained Minot Street followed-up under Tom Madden in the Dundalk Stadium Racecourse Of The Year Apprentice Handicap, holding Shadagann and Catchy Lass in a blanket-finish.