Super Saturn swings back into orbit for Jessica Harrington at Navan
Saturn and Scott McCullagh win for trainer Jessica Harrington at Navan. Picture: Healy Racing
Denied a tilt at the ‘Ebor’ last year due to a setback, Saturn, one of three runners for Jessica Harrington, made a successful return to action when landing the Cusack Hotel Group Handicap in Navan.
The towering grey came from off the pace under Scott McCullagh to master favourite Poetic Sound by a neck before surviving a Stewards Enquiry.
Kate Harrington explained, “It’s a bit emotional to have him back. He was all teed up for the ‘Ebor’ last summer but had a bit of a setback. And it’s a testament to the vets at Anglesey Lodge that he’s back racing.
“He was only ready to start today and should improve plenty. His owner/breeders (the Niarchos family) have been very patient. We’re only starting to see the best of him. And I’d say he’ll end up in one of the staying races at Royal Ascot.”
Placed in his four previous starts, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Mississippi River opened his account when making all in the Vintage Crop Raceday April 26th Maiden and giving apprentice Jack Cleary an early-season boost.
The Lope De Vega colt fought off all rivals in a blanket-finish, holding the fast-finishing newcomer Zahjrann by a head, with Omni Man and Diego El Queso close up in third and fourth.
“Jack gave him a lovely ride, from a tricky draw,” said O’Brien’s representative Chris Armstrong.
“It’s the first time since his debut that he raced on quick ground and he enjoyed it. The ground and the step-up in trip helped him. Jack said he toughed it out well. We might look at the ‘Blackwater’ (handicap, at Naas on April 28) for him.”
In the other maiden action, the 90-rated, Johnny Murtagh-trained Dakota Blue (Ben Coen) scored in the ten10-furlong Median Auction event, despite a market drift which saw him go off 7/4 second favourite.
Placed in good maidens at two and gelded over the winter, the son of Sioux Nation saw off Vorfreuse by a length and three-quarters, prompting Murtagh to comment: “He ran well in good maidens last year and is rated 90, so he was entitled to win his maiden. He’s been going well at home and we were hopeful coming here.
“Ben said he took a blow, so I hope he’ll improve. He likes fast ground and a mile and a quarter is good for him — this was a perfect spot for him. We’ll give him another run before we might think about Royal Ascot.”
Local trainer Chris Timmons savoured the first double of his career, at odds of 65/1, sparked by the all-the-way success of Step Back In Time (Colin Keane) in the opening Return To The Flat At Navan Handicap.
Hurricane Helen provided the second leg of doubles for Timmons and apprentice Robert Whearty when proving best in the Book Your Navan Summer BBQ Packages Apprentice Handicap, beating top-weight and favourite Secret World.
Initiating his double, Robert Whearty had earlier pounced on Paul Flynn’s versatile grey The Truant in the Enjoy Hospitality At Navan Handicap, the grey quickening into the lead at the furlong-pole before beating Makaiah by a length and a half.
“He surprised me a little bit,” admitted Flynn. “We thought he wanted soft ground, but, as Kevin Sexton tells me, he’s better on better ground.
“He’s a fun horse to mix it over the summer. He was second in a two-mile handicap at the Curragh last year and, if the race is still there, he’ll probably go back.”
And, out of luck in the earlier maiden action, Joseph O’Brien supplied a 1-2 in the concluding Bective Restaurant 3-Y-O Handicap as 5/1 favourite Junkyard Dog (Dylan Browne McMonagle) held off Palmezzano by a half-length.
