Tennessee Wildcat strikes for the bookmakers
One of two representatives from Ger Lyons’ Glenburnie yard in the four-runner field, the five-year-old Kheleyf gelding quickened off the home turn to tackle front-running Captain Joy, on which Pat Smullen set a steady pace in a tactical race.
In front before the furlong-pole, Sean Jones’ charge battled well to the line, where he had three-quarters of a length to spare.
Lyons said: “Colin gave him a peach of a ride – he’s riding out of his skin. This horse hasn’t looked back since he stepped-up to a mile. It’s great for Sean (Jones). He loves that ground and there are plenty of races for him.”
The two-year-old maidens produced impressive winners in newcomers Tanava, Dermot Weld’s first two-year-old winner of the season, and the Aidan O’Brien-trained Port Douglas. Both started favourite.
The Aga Khan-owned Tanava, confidently handled by Pat Smullen, came from off the pace and quickened impressively to beat Ballydoyle hope Minding by two and a half lengths in the fillies maiden, prompting her trainer to state: “She’s a smart filly and could be very good.”
And he added: “She was a little immature and green early on but, when she got her act together, she came home well. It sets up nicely for her to come back here for the Silver Flash Stakes (Group 3) next month (July 23).”
In the colts race, Port Douglas, a Galileo colt with a German pedigree, ridden by Joseph O’Brien, mastered the experienced Fisherman’s Blues in convincing style, stretching clear late to triumph by three and a quarter lengths.
Aidan O’Brien commented: “He’s a nice horse and you’d have to be delighted with that first time out. There’s plenty of stamina in his pedigree, so he won’t mind stepping-up in trip. Joseph dropped him in and he should have learned plenty tonight – and I liked the way he stretched in the last furlong.
“He’s in the Chesham (at Royal Ascot next week), but that’ll come a bit soon – the horse that won in Listowel, Deauville, will be our runner in it. This colt has a lovely attitude and we’ll step him into stakes company in two or three weeks.”
On a day when the sale of his star filly, Pleascach, winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas, to Godolphin was confirmed, it was appropriate that Jim Bolger saddled a winner in the familiar blue colours as the progressive Salthouse proved an emphatic winner of the Leopardstown Club Members Maiden.
Ridden by Kevin Manning, the Teofilo colt won well by five lengths, prompting his trainer to comment: “That was a big improvement on Navan and he seems to be going the right way, He’s a relaxed colt and we’ll look for a winners of one for him, or maybe enter for a handicap on Derby weekend.”
Trainer Brendan Duke was emotional after saddling Uno Voce (Wayne Lordan) to win the Paddy Casey Handicap, his first success at Leopardstown. The second reserve collared Social Climber and Liffey View close home.
Duke said: “I started my racing life here in Leopardstown at the Christmas meeting in 1963 – the first time I was ever at the races. I was born not far from here in Crumlin so it’s great to train a winner here. I thought the horse showed loads of courage in the last hundred yards.”
A little unlucky here last Friday, the Andy Oliver-trained Witty Repartee gained compensation when justifying 2/1 favouritism in the fillies handicap, edging past Tsundoqu before beating the consistent Annagh Haven by a length and a quarter. The Iffraaj filly was partnered by Chris Hayes.
Donal Kinsella, whose horses are in excellent fettle, won the apprentice handicap with Maudlin Magdalen, enterprisingly ridden by Ian Queally to beat Mezogiorno.
“She was ill last year and is only now back to where she was,” said Kinsella. ”But this was seriously worth waiting for.”
