Blizzard Of Oz gets the better of Rocky’s Diamond at Wexford
POISED TO STRIKE: Minella Jury and Adam Ryan, left, arrive to beat Riskaway in the finale at Wexford for owner and trainer John Nallen. Picture: Healy Racing
Off the track since the Punchestown festival, the Willie Mullins-trained Blizzard Of Oz opened his chasing account, at the fifth attempt, when outpointing exciting five-year-old Rocky’s Diamond after a titanic tussle for the listed Michael Hickey Memorial Chase at Wexford.
Michael Kenneally dictated the pace on even-money favourite Rocky’s Diamond, stalked all the way by Paul Townend on the eventual winner, who challenged at the final fence.
The favourite drifted left under pressure on the run-in as Townend’s mount stayed on dourly to snatch the spoils close home and triumph by three-quarters of a length.
Blizzard Of Oz carries the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede whose representative Daryl Jacob said: “He’s a always a bit ring-rusty for his first run and should improve from this, but we’re very, very happy with him — this was a good performance, beating a good horse.
“This is a sharp track and he’ll be better-suited by a big galloping track. He’s a second season novice, rated 147, so we should have a good year with him.”
Mullins and Townend were denied a double when the enigmatic grey Tullyhill was readily brushed aside by fellow 11-10 joint-favourite Fleur In The Park, ridden for Andy Slattery by Cian Quirke, in the racingtv.com Free Month Trial Beginners Chase.
Earlier, Rock Ya Boy Ya, up 15lb for recent wins in Killarney and Tramore, completed a superb hat-trick for trainer Francis Casey and 7lb claimer Alix Balfe when romping to a four-length win over Colonia Victoria.
“It’s fantastic,” declared Casey. “I rode him out myself yesterday and knew he was in great form. He’s put on weight since Killarney and is thriving. He used to be very nervous when he went racing, but he’s now totally chilled. He’ll be going over fences and could be a better chaser.”
Paul Nolan and Seán O’Keeffe followed up Sunday’s double when newcomer Sageborough (20-1) turned over the frustrating Luker’s Tipple in the opening maiden hurdle.
The Cian Collins-trained Ring Of Kerry (Danny Gilligan), backed into 6-4 favourite, scored on his hurdling debut in the racing TV Maiden Hurdle while Adam Ryan, successful in Sunday’s bumper, galvanised John Nallen’s Minella Jury to a narrow win over favourite Riskaway in the finale.
Meanwhile, in Galway, where Donegal’s Dylan Browne McMonagle became champion jockey for the first time (both he and title rival Colin Keane are finished their domestic season and en-route to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup), Aidan O’Brien and Ross O’Sullivan shared the training honours.
O’Brien saddled odds-on favourite for both two-year-old maidens, but was successful with the stable second-strings.
Classiest (Declan McDonogh), a debutante by Wootton Bassett, proved too strong for Flawless Fusion and favourite Venosa in the fillies’ maiden.
And, after Liam Keniry looked set to ride his first winner on home soil since 2000, on board 5-6 shot Garden Party, Ronan Whelan produced once-raced colt Proposition (by Frankel), with a late challenge to outstay his rival.
O’Sullivan, who also saddled two seconds on the day, struck with Down The Glen (Donagh O’Connor) in the www.swordsecurity.com Nursery and followed up when Shane Foley partnered four-year-old Slurricane, in first-time cheekpieces, to victory over Granite Bay in the Domnino’s Handicap.
Trainer Mick Mulvany equalled his best seasonal tally (19) when Ribee, relishing the testing conditions, registered his third success of the season in the KONE Handicap, Gary Carroll’s mount denying San Aer a third successive win in the race by a half-length.
