Dromahane point-to-point abandoned after two races
Unfortunately, the afternoon was compromised by heavy rain and driving winds and the stewards took the decision to abandon racing after the second race due to the deteriorating weather conditions.
Rob James however will forever treasure fond memories of the occasion as the Co Wexford amateur was credited with his initial success as an owner when steering the Colin Bowe-trained newcomer Report To Base (5/4) to a comprehensive success in the opening four-year-old maiden.
The Westerner-sired Report To Base, a mid-March foal that was bought last year’s Derby sale, led or disputed the running virtually throughout and he asserted from the second last to get the better of Vinny Halley’s Voila Eric by two lengths with the duo pulling fully 25 lengths clear of the third-placed Brave Eagle.
Enniscorthy native James remarked of Report To Base, Bowe’s tenth individual four-year-old winner of the season to date: “This horse has always done everything very easily at home. He has a great attitude and he never left a nut at feed time anytime that he was away to school. He should hopefully develop into a good horse and he’s for sale now.”
Chris O’Donovan (20) consolidated his advantage in the novice riders championship by partnering his ninth winner of the campaign aboard Michael Winters’ ex-track performer Blazes Peg (evens) in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.
Blazes Peg, a fine third on her points debut at Lismore last month, made smooth progress to dispute two out and she mastered main market rival Lady Robyn between the final two fences to score by two lengths in the colours of Maurice Mariga who was actually sampling his initial success as an owner.
Winters later intimated that Blaze Peg, a daughter of dual black-type winning racemare Blazing Liss, will now be primed for a tilt at a maiden hurdle. The handler also paid particular tribute to O’Donovan who came into his Kanturk yard to school Blazes Peg yesterday morning.
1) R James’
b g (Westerner – Marina Du Berlais) 11-10 Mr R James
2) Ms S Keane’s
(GB) 11-10 Mr J C Barry
3) Mrs V O’Leary’s
11-10 Mr P J O’Neill
6 ran. 2L, 25L, Dist. (Winner trained by Colin Bowe)
1) M K Mariga’s
b m (Presenting – Blazing Liss) 6-11-5 Mr M C O’Donovan
2) F Walsh’s
6-11-10 Mr B M Linehan
3) R W Tector’s
5-11-5 Mr E P Keating
8 ran. 2L, 9L, 3L. (Winner trained by Michael Winters)
- Due to deteriorating weather conditions and in the best interests of safety to horses and riders, the remainder of the meeting was abandoned after the second race
