Deo Vero ends Geary's 11-month drought with Roscommon success

David Geary, Stacey Fitzgibbon, and Chris Hayes after Deo Vero won the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden. Picture: Healy Racing 

David Geary, who trains a small string in Clarina, County Limerick, savoured his first win since June of last year when Deo Vero, luckless on debut at the Curragh and a morning gamble, landed the Irish EBF Auction Series 2-Y-0 Maiden in Roscommon.

“She had a lovely introduction at the Curragh, although nothing went right for her,” explained Geary. “But Chris (Hayes, jockey) gave her a nice experience and her work has improved since. She missed the kick again tonight, but the gaps came at the right time and it’s great to win a maiden with her. She might go for a winners of one in Leopardstown next month (June 20).” 

Hayes added: “I loved her at the Curragh and liked her more today. She’s a big girl, only going to improve, and should develop into a stakes filly.” 

Gary Carroll took the riding honours at Roscommon, completing a 3301 double on Alto Sax and Total Look.

Runner-up at Gowran Park last time, Total Look continued Gavin Cromwell’s rich vein of form, under both codes, when staying on dourly to see off It’sonlyjustbegun and promising newcomer Woottonpassit in the JTW Distribution Roscommon Maiden.

Cromwell commented: “I was concerned when the rain didn’t come — I thought a mile and a quarter around here might be a bit sharp for him. But he did things right, put his head down, and galloped through the line. He was good and gutsy and you love to see that.

“I think there’s plenty of improvement in him. He might have a little break before an autumn campaign. He’ll jump a hurdle in time.” 

Carroll had initiated his double when the Ger Lyons-trained Alto Sax, clearly relishing the drying ground, made it 11th-time-lucky when taking the opening claimer at the expense of Zenato and Royalcorrespondent.

Apprentice Jack Cleary produced Ger O’Leary’s top-weight Sea Eagle with a late surge to foil Theophilos and front-runner Cleopatra’s Needle by a neck and a half-length in the Abbey Hotel Roscommon Handicap.

O’Leary admitted: “I wasn’t sure about the mile and a quarter and told Jack to ride him cold and be last to challenge — and he did a great job. This opens plenty of options for the horse.” 

Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen, narrowly denied with Theophilos, gained compensation when Sixpack, narrowly beaten over course and distance last week, got off the mark in the Racing Again Here On June 10th Handicap, relishing the better ground and readily outpointing top-weight Ameerat Jumeira and his conqueror of seven days ago, Jabbar.

And, successful on his recent handicap debut in Cork, Granite Bay made it four winners from his last six runners for trainer Jarlath Fahey when defying top-weight, and a 4lb higher mark in the Roscommon Racecourse Handicap, finding plenty for Ronan Whelan in the closing stages to deny favourite Solar Drive by a length.