Impressive Aidan O’Brien-trained Capri completes quick double
Soon in front under Seamus Heffernan, he lengthened well when asked for his effort in the straight and stayed on well to beat Boyfriend Brian by two lengths.
“He’s a nice colt, still a baby, and coming forward with each run,” said O’Brien. “Seamus loves him and was very happy with him again today. He’s a solid, straight-forward colt.”
Ger Lyons quipped: “It’s the only time a Meath footballer will talk to me,” after Sweet Sounds, bred by Shane O’Rourke and ridden by Colin Keane, made a successful debut in the two-year-old auction fillies maiden, beating slow-starter Lady Derrynane by three lengths.
Lyons added: “She came from Goresbridge – she was the last into the ring and the cheapest they (Qatar Racing) bought.
"She’s very straight-forward and we’ve liked her from day one. We were expecting her to run run well, but winning is a bonus. There’s a winners’ auction race in Roscommon on Monday week and she’ll go for that, if she’s okay, before we go looking for some black type.”
Ostatnia, in the colours Stephen McCarthy, again proved her liking for Tipperary when landing the five-furlong Follow Tipperary On Facebook Handicap at the expense of top-weight Master Speaker, ending a long lean spell for her trainer Willie McCreery.
The half-sister to Osterhase, ridden by Billy Lee arrived, travelling strongly and kept going well to triumph by three-quarters of a length, recording her third win over this sprint track.
“I was a bit worried about the ground, because she needs it good,” said McCreery.
“She missed the kick at Dundalk the last day, but came home well. She travelled very well tonight. She has a high cruising speed and the plan is to get some black type for her before the end of the season – we might have to travel to find a suitable five-furlong race.”
McCreery and Lee were on the mark again when Valentana, described by her trainer as “a big raw filly that needed time” swooped late to beat Full Shilling in the second division of the Dan Dooley Ford Centre (45-65) Handicap.
McCreery completed a remarkable night when Elm Grove, a first ride for Niamh Hennessy (21), from Glenmore, County Kilkenny, landed the concluding ladies handicap, providing the Curragh trainer with a welcome treble.
