Tested delivers in great style in Group 3 Coolmore Stud Fairy Bridge Stakes
The well-backed 11-8 favourite missed the kick but was rushed up to take a prominent position. She settled well for Smullen, could be called a winner a long way out, and duly quickened up to win with plenty to spare, with the ultra-consistent Military Angel getting up late to take the runner-up spot.
Said Kris Weld: “We felt if she reproduced her win in the race last year, that would be good enough, and she has won nicely. The ground was a little slower than ideal for her, but you’d have to be pleased the way she got the job done. She’s a very classy filly, and certainly seems to prefer Tipperary to Ballybrit.”
The middle leg of the treble came when Mulkeyya shed her maiden status, at the fifth time of asking. The half-sister to the stable’s Group 2-winning Mustajeeb travelled strongly in the testing conditions, quickened up turning for home, and won well. “She’s regally-bred and it’s important to get a winning bracket beside her name,” said Weld. “She’ll make a lovely broodmare.”
The treble came in the finale, when Smullen produced Tandem with a perfectly timed run to snatch victory from well-backed favourite In My Pocket. Rivers Of Babylon set a strong pace and the market leader looked booked for victory when hitting the front late in the straight.
However, the patiently ridden Tandem, returning to the flat for the first time in almost two years, was brought between runners in the last half-furlong to score by a cosy half-length. Kris Weld confirmed a return to jumps, at the Listowel festival, is the likely next target for the winner.
Trainer Willie McCreery and jockey Billy Lee were the team to record a hat-trick at the previous meeting here, and they continued where they left off when Radiantly won the opening maiden.
Sixth on her debut, at Leopardstown, she showed the benefit of the experience as she took up a prominent position early, travelled well, and picked up nicely to reel-in Pacodali late, with the well-backed Red Stars catching the eye, back in third.
“She ran a grand race the last day, but was drawn 13 of 13 at Leopardstown,” said McCreery. “She flew home there, and Wayne (Lordan) gave her a lovely ride. She jumped a lot smarter (from stalls) this time – typical of one that has run.
“She’s a big baby, but a quality filly. Whether or not she’ll be another Fiesolana in time, I don’t know. She wouldn’t want the ground too fast this year, but she’s a great-moving filly.”
Taisce Naisiunta, who was a winner on debut but found listed company a touch too hot on her next three outings, showed her class when bouncing back to winning ways in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery, for trainer Jim Bolger. Brought wide by Kevin Manning to mount a late challenge, she reeled in Killarney winner Jefferson Davis inside the final furlong.
Upton trainer John Murphy had three runners in the Follow @Tipperaryraces on Twitter Apprentice Handicap, and they filled the first three places, headed by the Denis Linehan-ridden Tanneron.
Linehan, from Glantane, who is enjoying a great run, said of the winner: “It was a good performance, she travelled well early, handled the ground well, and picked up nicely but I probably got there a bit there a bit soon.
“I wasn’t sure what her chances were as she had bits of form but seemed to be out of form. But she did it well.”
Of his current hot streak, he added: “Things are going well at the moment - this was my sixth winner, and I had four in a week last week.”
Another Cork jockey to make his mark was 16-year-old Kanturk-native Killian Leonard, who was seen to good effect when recording his first victory, aboard the Victor Clifford-trained Malicious Intent, in the Meadowview Stables Handicap.
Brought with a strong challenge down the outside, the 8-1 chance led inside the final furlong and battled well to deny the renewed effort of Aimhirgin Lass.
Said Clifford: “He’s made of glass, and has had all sorts of problems. He’s also a bit quirky, and I have to lead him into stalls myself. But he got a beautiful ride from Killian – he followed the instructions to the letter.”
Leonard, who rode more than 50 winners on the pony-racing circuit, revealed: “I’m based with Susan Finn, and was with Ger Lyons for the summer. I learned loads there, riding with Colin Keane and Gary Carroll, and hope to be apprentice there next yet. I’m starting back in my leaving cert year on Monday, and will head up to Ger as much as I can.”
