Adool gives Dermot Weld another win in ‘Harriet’
Having only her third start and dropping from a creditable third at Group 3 level in Leopardstown last time, the daughter of Teofilo overcame a high drawn (thirteen) under an astute and determined ride from Pat Smullen, staying on bravely in the closing stages to beat Santa Monica by a half-length, with Assume a close third.
“She’s a decent filly,” stated Weld. “This was only her third run and Pat said she’s still a little bit green. So there should be more improvement to come.
“A mile and a quarter is her right trip. She’s a progressive filly, group-placed already and now a stakes winner. I’m very hopeful of winning a Group 3 with her before the end of the season.”
Weld and Smullen supplied the favourite, Crème De La, in the finale, the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Maiden. But the English Channel filly, blinkered for the first time, again looked less than straight-forward before going down by a half-length to Nearly Famous, owned and trained by Jessica Harrington.
The winner was partnered by Colm O’Donoghue. The successful trainer commented: ”She’s a hardy filly and goes on any ground. She was very unlucky in Galway and I think she deserved this. She’ll have no problem going a bit further.”
The chief supporting race, the McEnery Cup went to My Direction, trained locally by Ellmarie Holden for her father Paul. The Singspiel gelding stayed on strongly for Leigh Roche to master front-runner Xebec by a length and a half, with Ceol Na Nog third.
Back at the scene of her initial training success, with Static Jack, Holden commented: “It’s great to win again at our local track. This fellow is entered again in Tramore on Saturday, but I’d say we’ll leave him alone for a week or two before we make plans for him.”
Unplaced on her debut on this track, Legitimus, a daughter of Lawman, made all to win the opening, seven-furlong two-year-old maiden for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning, scoring emphatically from Ballydoyle hope Pennnsylvania. “We always liked her, but she have suffered from stage-fright the last day,” explained Bolger. “Her dam (a full-sister to Galatee, dam of Dartmouth) was an expensive foal in Keeneland. I’m hoping this will be a listed filly, even if we have to wait until next year.”
Joseph O’Brien saddled 11/1 shot Sweetasever, ridden by sister Ana, to record a narrow victory in the seven-furlong nursery, the daughter of Power getting up late to beat Dandys Gold by a neck with front-running favourite Sir Dreamalot a close third.
The quick ground and seven furlongs suited her,” said the winning trainer.
“Ana gave her a great ride – she got a lovely run around the inside. In the spring, we thought this filly would win a maiden, but she was a bit disappointing. Maybe she just took a couple of runs to get her act together. I hope she keeps progressing.”
Slowly into stride and keen early, Lady Fandango came from last to first under Declan McDonogh to deny Cirin Toinne by a neck in the Irish Stallion Farms Fillies Handicap, scoring for Gordon Elliott.
“That’s as far as she wants to go, but she hit the front at just the right time,” said McDonogh. “She’s a grand filly and might win another.”
The Golf Membership At Gowran Park Apprentice Handicap produced a blanket-finish with victory going to the Paddy Rogers-trained Romantic (Killian Leonard) which prevailed by a short-head and the same over Jessamine and Liberality.
Denis Linehan, the rider of the runner-up, picked-up a four-day ban for careless riding.
