More Dundalk success for ‘happy’ Togoville
The grey five-year-old, described by his trainer Georgios Pakidis as “a happy horse”, proved a length and a half too strong for Kasbah, with top-weight and favourite Ardhoomey third.
Togoville was registering his fifth win at Dundalk a nd Pakidis enthused: “He’s been in very good form and is a horse with a lot of natural speed. He can go any distance from five furlongs to a mile.
“The soft ground was against him in Naas. But he likes this surface and will be staying here for the winter.”
The other sprint handicap, the Crowne Plaza Hotel Handicap, went to the Eamonn O’Connell-trained mare Sassaway, ridden by Declan McDonogh, which beat Anonymous Lady by a neck.
“She got hurt the last day and needed a break, and I wasn’t sure she was straight enough for today, she surprised me by winning,” said O’Connell.
“We’ll go back to the Curragh with her now. Looking further ahead, she’ll probably be covered next year.”
A week before the high-profile Longines Irish Champions Weekend, Aidan O’Brien won the www.dundalkstadium.com 2-Y-0 Maiden with the once-raced General Macarthur, ridden by Joseph, which beat newcomers A Likely Story and slow-starting Blue De Vega, which was sent off favourite after sustained support.
A son of War Front, General Macarthur built on his debut fourth at the Curragh, as Joseph explained: “He was fierce green the first day, but much better today. We were probably in front a bit soon and he was idling and getting lonely. But he’s a nice colt and should keep improving.”
Ken Condon is planning a trip to Laytown on Thursday for the Billy Lee-ridden Strait Of Zanzibar following his gutsy victory over Great Wide Open and Morselle in the seven-furlong rated race.
The Curragh trainer, whose wife Pauline will ride Strait Of Zanzibar in Laytown, stated: “The race set up nicely for him. There was plenty of pace and he finds plenty when he comes off the bridle.
"He’s been consistent, but ground is crucial to him, he doesn’t really let himself down when it’s fast.”
George Murphy, son of trainer John, said: “We were disappointed with his first two runs, but he’s a big, backward horse and is probably only coming to himself,” after 50/1 shot Cape Discovery, ridden by Keith Moriarty, beat the unlucky Zuberi and favourite Duchessofflorence in the Dundalk Stadium Apprentice Maiden.
Ross Coakley, probably the most improved apprentice this season, was on the mark again when top-weight Eye Of The Tiger landed the finale, the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Handicap, getting the better of Magnetic Force and Jack Blue by a head and a nose.
