Willie Mullins opens new season with odds-on double at Ballinrobe
Supersundae and Kieran Callaghan win the Supermac's Maiden Hurdle at Ballinrobe. Picture: Healy Racing
Record-breaker Willie Mullins struck with two of his first three runners of the new season when Supersundae and Sorrentino justified odds-on favouritism in Ballinrobe.
Seventh in the ‘Supreme Novices’ at Cheltenham on his stable debut, 1/6 shot Supersundae, a half-brother to seven winners, including Supasundae, sparked the Mullins double, when making all for an effortless win in the Supermacs Maiden Hurdle.
Ridden by Kieran Callaghan (also successful on Michel Griffin’s Whatyouwant in a division of the 80-95 handicap hurdle), the strapping five-year-old won comfortably by ten10 lengths, his rider explaining: “He was down in class and up in trip and he was plenty keen all the way. But, when I gave him a squeeze at the back of the last, he was away and gone. And it took me a while to pull him up. I was very impressed with it.”
The Closutton double was completed when Sorrentino (4/6), in the colours of Ballylinch Stud and off the track for a year, took the bumper in smooth style.
“He’s given a good bit of trouble, but has a big engine,” said winning rider Patrick Mullins.
“He was probably 80% ready for this and did it well — I’d say the slow pace helped him. He could go back on the flat, but I’d love to win a winners’ bumper with him. And he has the scope to jump hurdles. We’ll just have to keep him in one piece.”
The other Mullins runner Zenta disappointed at 8/13 favourite in the Burleigh Accountancy Group Beginners Chase, finishing fourth, having made a couple of costly mistakes early, behind chasing debutant Magnor Glory, trained by in-form Terence O’Brien and ridden by John Shinnick, who saidstated: “We didn’t know what to expect the way he has been schooling at home, but he seemed to love it.”
“He was a bit wound-up beforehand. I just got him jumping on the first lap and eased my way into it. I knew I had plenty in the tank and my only worry was the loose horse.”
Earlier, owner/trainer Bill Durkan, a proud Mayo man, savoured the gutsy victory of Wandering Rocks (Oakley Brown) in the Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle, getting up late to foil Drumgill.
The Fozzy Stack-trained Unexpected Issues, a full-sister to Castle Star, justified market confidence when making a successful debut in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series 2-Y-0 Maiden in Navan.
Backed into 2/1 favourite and ridden by Seamus Heffernan, the Starspangledbanner filly got the better of Ballydoyle debutante Heavens Gate by a half-length, prompting her trainer to comment: “She’s done better than her bother, who got beaten first time out. She’s only worked once on grass, so she should come forward from the run. She looks an Ascot filly.”
Bay Of Sanibel, beaten on her handicap debut last time, took the featured Cusack Hotel Group Handicap for Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley, getting the better of Minella Mate and Zoffman.
“The cheekpieces helped her concentrate and she’ll have no problem going a bit further, “ said Kate Harrington.
“We’ll find another handicap for her before she steps into listed or Group 3 company.”
Having his first run for Paddy Twomey, having run twice for David O’Meara in England last season, Air Force One justified 13/8 favouritism in the five-furlong NavanRacecourse.ie Maiden, showing plenty of pace throughout before holding Ojw Legacy by a head.
“He was probably a bit ring-rusty and should come on for it,” said Twomey, “A flat five furlongs and faster ground will suit him better.” Billy Lee, who rode Air Force One, completed a double when Willie McCreery’s Concluding Call reversed recent Curragh form with 4/11 favourite Uncanny in the Racing Again May 18th Fillies Maiden.
