Spartan Arrow strikes for Britain in Dundalk’s Mercury Stakes
Spartan Arrow and Hollie Doyle win the Mercury Stakes (Group 3) for owners Hambleton Racing Ltd XXXI and partner and trainer Archie Watson. Pic: Healy Racing
The Archie Watson-trained Spartan Arrow became the fifth British raider to land Dundalk’s Bar One Racing Mercury Stakes in ten years when outpointing compatriot and favourite West Acre in last night’s Group 3 feature.
A second winner in Ireland for Hollie Doyle (her first was Bradsell in the Group 1 ‘Flying Five’), the 6/1 shot tracked trailblazer Eclairage, edged ahead before the furlong pole and held on by a half-length, with Queen Of Mougins taking third spot.
“That was a great performance,” declared Doyle, “He’s been knocking on the door and there have been a few hard-luck stories with him. He struggled in better company on soft ground, but it all came easy to him here, on an artificial surface.
“Going around a bend is like a change of scenery for sprinters. I got a nice toe into the race, but had to commit early enough. And he only does enough when he hits the front.”
Top-weight and well-backed 13/8 favourite Rosie Frith bounced out of the stalls and made all to take the five-furlong nursery for trainer Paddy Magee.
The Cotai Glory filly, an 18th winner of the season for apprentice Paddy McGettigan, held on by a half-length from Final Melody.
Gary Carroll registered his 46th success of the domestic campaign when How’sthebai, trained for Sean Jones by Ger Lyons, made it third-time-lucky in the one-mile two-year-old maiden.
Rising star Nicola Burns brought her seasonal tally to 19 when partnering Michael O’Callaghan’s Darkdeserthighway to a fourth polytrack win in the View Restaurant Apprentice Handicap.
And Etawa, entered for the upcoming Breeding Stock Sale, got off the mark, in first-time cheekpieces, for Dermot Weld and Chris Hayes in the concluding maiden.
Earlier, in Sligo, admirable ten-year-old Colonel Mustard, whose only previous hurdles success came in Galway four years ago but whose form includes highly creditable placed efforts behind the likes of Jonbon and State Man, turned over 1/3 shot Sixandahalf in the Solar Generation Hurdle.
Runner-up in this race last year, Colonel Mustard was ridden by John Shinnick for Lorna Fowler, who explained, “He deserved that on ratings and had everything to bring to the table. He feels better every year and is still enjoying life. He has loads of ability and will step-up to two and a half miles, or a little bit more, during the season.”
The John McConnell-trained Additional Time, disqualified at Thurles last time, gained compensation when, ridden by Simon Torrens, he justified 1/3 favouritism, with the minimum of fuss, in the four-runner Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle.
Heather Heffernan, a key member of the Race Displays team at all Irish tracks, savoured her first success in the saddle on board Insouciant Dallier, trained by her partner James Fahey, who outpointed favourite Are You Around in the John Thomas McNamara Series (Amateur) Maiden Hurdle.
And Cornmarket, ridden by 7lb claimer Alan King, who received a four-day whip ban, registered his third win at Sligo in 2025 when landing the season finale for John Cullen, who trains near Ballina.
