Six Gun survives scare to deny Fifty Bob

The Pat Doyle-trained Six Gun Serenade gave ample indication that a bright track career lies in wait by winning the four-year-old geldings’ maiden at yesterday’s well-attended Killeady Harriers point-to-point at Ballyarthur outside Fermoy.

Six Gun Serenade (6/4), who unseated six out on his initial outing at Kilmallock just seven days earlier, arrived from off the pace to pick up the running before the second last of the 15 obstacles.

The winning son of Kalanisi was well in command when losing momentum just before the final fence which resulted in him being far from clever over the obstacle.

Six Gun Serenade was however still not going to be denied and he stayed on grimly in the closing stages to account for newcomer Fifty Bob by a half-length.

“This horse is from the same family as Puffin Billy and he will probably now go to the Punchestown sale on April 30th,” reported handler Doyle of Six Gun Serenade, the first horse that he has trained for owner/breeder Ken Parkhill from Co Meath.

Six Gun Serenade’s rider Derek O’Connor was the only rider to partner two winners, the Galwegian later capturing the winners of one with ex-track performer Buckskin Boulta (3/1).

The Sean Aherne-trained Buckskin Boulta was always positioned at the head of affairs and he made most of the running until joined by Crosshue Boy approaching the final fence.

The eventual winner however still seemed to be travelling marginally stronger than Crosshue Boy when the latter fell here with Cnoc Na Gcon then finishing 12 lengths adrift in second spot.

Another winners race is now likely to feature for Buckskin Boulta, in whom former professional jockey Bob Townend also holds an interest.

Crosshue Boy’s handler Donnchadh Doyle experienced better fortune when the grey Celtic Flames (7/1) made a stylish winning debut in the hands of Barry O’Neill in the five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

The Celtic Swing-sired Celtic Flames, a graduate of last year’s August sale at Fairyhouse, effortlessly took command from two out to eclipse favourite Accord by five lengths.

The Paul Patrick Moloney-trained Michealamaystar (4/1) landed the closing adjacent hunts maiden under James Hannon.

Michealamaystar, who was fitted with cheekpieces, struck the front two out and she was always possessing too many aces for the promising Fly West thereafter with two and a half lengths separating the pair.

The Flemensfirth-sired Michealamaystar is incidentally owned and bred by May O’Connell from Dunderrow.

Is It Ok (10/1), owned and trained by former leading amateur rider Pat Healy, caused a mild upset in the six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

Runner-up Quick Oats eased to the front travelling very well after three out, but Is It Ok was in full flow approaching the final fence and the recent Inch fifth made his way to the front on the flat with Barry John Foley to eclipse Chris O’Donovan’s mount by a half-length.

Walshtown-based handler Donie Murphy, also on the mark with Full Print at Dromahane the previous Sunday, maintained his rich vein of form by saddling Talktotheblonde (4/1) to oblige with Eoin O’Brien in the six-year-old mares’ maiden.

The hooded Talktotheblonde led until overtaken after three out, but she bravely came a second time to hit the front on the flat en-route to putting a half-length between herself and favourite So Sorry Sarah in the colours of Ardfinnan-based owner/breeder John O’Leary.

Results

Going:

Good

Goffs Bloodstock 4-Y-O Geldings’ Maiden of €800. 3 Miles

1) K Parkhill’s Six Gun Serenade

b g (Kalanisi – Zanaide) 11-9 Mr D O’Connor

2) B Gahan’s Fifty Bob

11-9 Mr J P O’Rourke

3) P T Flavin’s Jury Duty

11-9 Mr J W Hannon

8 ran. 1/2L, 1 1/2L, 15L. (Winner trained by P M J Doyle)

Brightwells Bloodstock 5-Y-O Geldings’ Maiden of €800. 3 Miles

1) Monbeg Syndicate’s Celtic Flames

gr g (Celtic Swing – Don’t Forget Shoka) 12-2 Mr B O’Neill

2) J Morrison’s Accord

12-2 Mr L C Murphy

3) Mrs W Harney’s Gandhi

12-2 Mr D O’Connor

12 ran. 5L, 2L, 3L. (Winner trained by Donnchadh Doyle)

Cork & Waterford Trainers 6-Y-O Mares’ Maiden of €800. 3 Miles

1) J O’Leary’s Talktotheblonde

b m (Royal Anthem – Talktothetail) 11-11 Mr E P O’Brien

2) P Power’s So Sorry Sarah

11-11 Mr D O’Connor

3) Ms M Kelly’s Legal Proceedings

11-11 Mr B J Foley

14 ran. 1L, 3/4L, 6L. (Winner trained by Daniel G Murphy)

Crossbarry Inn & Gain Horse Feeds Winners Of One of €1, 000. 3 Miles

1) S Aherne’s Buckskin Boulta

b g (Vertical Speed – Ballymartin Trix) 7-12-2 Mr D O’Connor

2) M Conheady’s Cnoc Na Gcon

9-11-11 Mr J Conheady

3) D Fitzgerald’s Lisnagar Star

7-12-2 Mr C W Fennessy

11 ran. 12L, 4L. Only 3 Horses Finished. (Winner trained by Sean Aherne)

Cork & Waterford Trainers 6-Y-O & Upwards Geldings’ Maiden of €800. 3 Miles

1) P J Healy’s Is It Ok

b g (Oscar – Tonto’s Express) 8-12-2 Mr B J Foley

2) J J Mullane’s Quick Oats

6-11-11 Mr M C O’Donovan

3) Mrs M Slattery & S Hennessy’s Letitshine

7-12-2 Mr L C Murphy

4) 12 ran. 1/2L, 5L, 10L. (Winner trained by P J Healy)

Pegus Horse Feeds, Clona Dairies & FDC 5-Y-O & Upwards Adjacent Hunts Maiden of €800. 3 Miles

1) Ms M O’Connell’s Michealamaystar

b m (Flemensfirth – Special Case) 6-11-11 Mr J W Hannon

2) J Barrett’s Fly West

7-12-2 Mr J T Carroll

3) R B Tyner’s Barney’s Girl

12-11-6 Mr R B Tyner

7 ran. 2 1/2L, 12L. Only 3 Horses Finished. (Winner trained by Paul Patrick Moloney)