San Salvador leads Joseph O’Brien double at Ballinrobe
San Salvador and Dylan Browne McMonagle win the Download The Tote App Handicap at Ballinrobe. Pic: Healy Racing Photo
Versatile veteran San Salvador defied top-weight in the featured Download The Tote App Handicap in Ballinrobe, providing the second leg of a double for Joseph O’Brien and stable-jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle, who is now only five behind reigning champion Colin Keane (45-50) in the title race.
Last seen when running creditably in the Ascot Stakes, nine-year-old San Salvador tracked front-runner Cristal Clere before challenging on the approach to the straight and, in front inside the final furlong, stayed on to triumph by a length and three-quarters.
“He’s an absolute legend of a horse to ride,” stated the delighted winning rider.
“He’s so straight-forward, stays well but has a good turn of foot. He has a lot of speed for an old horse and travelled really well. I kept taking him back but he picked up well when I asked him. He was the class horse in the race and won like it. I’m sure Joseph has a plan for him.”
Earlier, Dylan Browne McMonagle guided well-backed 3/1 shot, Kashel Spring, to a clear-cut victory in the Tote Never Beaten By SP Maiden, sparing the Carriganog double.
The Australia filly swept to the front turning for home before being driven clear to score by five lengths from favourite Minella Study, prompting her rider to comment, “She’s a very straight-forward filly, with a good attitude, and is progressing with experience. I had her in a good position, with a nice pace to aim at. The ease in the ground helped her and, hopefully, she keeps improving.”
The Paul Gilligan-trained Buddy One, a high-class staying hurdler, had the perfect pipe-opener ahead of next Wednesday’s Tote-sponsored Galway Plate when opening his flat account in the Tote.ie Maiden, mastering front-runner So Golden by a length.
The eight-year-old was ridden by Rory Cleary, who stated, “He’s a classy hurdler and Paul told me to buck him out and have him handy all the way, that his class should see him go close. I was pretty much flat out all the way, but he picked up and stayed going well. He just did enough when he got to the front, but it should leave him spot-on for Galway.”
Apprentice Nicola Burns, who registered a double at the last meeting here, struck again when partnering the Andy McNamara-trained Galaxy Wonder to a gutsy, all-the-way win in the Follow Tote On X Handicap, holding off the late challenges of Boyne Valley and Eagles Dream.
“He seems to be happy racing on his own and I’m delighted for his very enthusiastic owner Dessie Kelly,” declared McNamara.
Front-running tactics also paid off for Robert Whearty on board Paul Flynn’s mare Grizabella in the Tote Guarantee Handicap as the six-year-old mare bolted-up by ten lengths from Lunar Landscape.
“She doesn’t suit hurdles and doesn’t really stay two miles,” commented the winning trainer, “Her wind is not perfect and these country tracks suit her – filling her up the whole time.”
Up 4lb. for a recent win in Bellewstown, Ciaran Murphy’s mare Steps In The Sand, ridden by Patrick McGettigan, followed-up in the Tote-sponsored apprentice handicap.
