Ribee gets flat season off to a flyer for McDonagh and Mulvany with Lincoln win
SWEET RIBS: Ribee (left) ridden by jockey Declan McDonogh on their way to winning Nua Healthcare Irish Lincolnshire at Curragh Racecourse, County Kildare, Ireland. Pic: Damien Eagers/PA Wire
Trainer Mick Mulvany and jockey Declan McDonogh bagged a second Irish Lincoln when 20/1 shot Ribee ploughed through the testing conditions to take the Nua Healthcare-sponsored traditional feature on the opening day of the flat season at the Curragh.
The four-year-old Ribchester gelding took command before the furlong-pole and stayed on dourly to beat Eastwatch by a length and a half.
“We knew he’d be hard to beat in those conditions. The Lincoln has been his goal since last backend and I’m delighted for his owner-breeder (Lee Rogan) – this is the first he bred," Mulvany said afterwards.
“I booked Declan a while back – Gary (Carroll) couldn’t do the weight and, although Wesley (Joyce) is our stable-jockey, the owner wanted a senior man. He seemed to travel well all the way, although I was a bit worried he had hit the front a bit early.
“If the ground stays like that, we’ll go again with him in the next few weeks. But the ground will decide what we do.”
Mulvany had previously won the Lincoln with Onthegoagain, when it was run in Naas in 2018, while McDonogh triumphed on Victram way back in 2005.
And Mulvany crowned a memorable day when another 20/1 shot Electric Beauty arrived with a well-timed challenge to foil Lough Leane in the concluding IxBet.ie Handicap.
The Mastercraftsman filly, successful at Leopardstown and Galway last season, was partnered to an ultimately convincing win by Jamie Powell, providing Mulvany with a 440/1 opening day double.
Former champion Colin Keane got off the mark for the new campaign when guiding Breaking Dawn to a clear-cut success in the six-furlong maiden, scoring by two and a half lengths from Keogie.
“It’s nice to win with our first runner,” said winning trainer Michael O’Callaghan. “We liked him last year, but he was a bit weak and immature. Colin says he feels stronger. This was his third run, so he’ll get a mark and will step up in trip. If he’s fresh and well during the week, we might look at the Madrid in Naas next Sunday.”
O’Callaghan’s Hassaniya flattered before filling fourth spot in the later one-mile Final Furlong Maiden behind the Billy Lee-ridden 16/1 newcomer Victory Ti, in the familiar colours of Chris Jones. Victory Tip was ending a week of mixed emotions at Cheltenham for trainer Henry de Bromhead.
“He’s a nice horse and I had a job pulling him up. He walked out of the stalls and fell asleep but, when I gave him a squeeze, he picked up and I cut my way through the field," Lee said. "It was a nice performance and there’s a lot to look forward to with him.”
Backers of the Aidan O’Brien’s trained class-dropper Signora looked set to collect when Ryan Moore’s mount, having dictated the pace, was four lengths clear approaching the furlong-pole in the Mental Health Matters Fillies Maiden.
But the even-money favourite tired and was collared late and beaten a length and three-quarters by once-raced Oasis Dream filly Pollenca, representing the father-and-son Slattery combination.
“I was expecting that – I would have been disappointed if she got beaten,” said the winning trainer. “She had a nice run in Dundalk and probably should have won. She was very green. She was further back than planned today, but came home well. She wants a mile or a mile and a quarter and is a nice filly. She could be one for a Guineas trial, but the owners are sellers, so we’ll see.”
Ruler’s Control, a Territories colt, trained for Donnchadh Doyle by Jack Foley and ridden by Luke McAteer, ended AMO Racing’s domination of the opening two-year-old event of the season (they’ve won it for the last three years), holding the persistent challenge of the odds-on favourite Force Noir by a head.
“That was a good performance. We’ve thought an awful lot of him at home – he’s been working with the older horses," Foley stated. "This race normally turns up real good horses and we think this colt is nice. He’ll be offered for sale and, if he’s not sold, we can dream.
"Today was our Gold Cup,” declared a jubilant Martin Hassett after Dmaniac (7/2 joint-favourite) and Wayne Lordan captured the Nua’s Canine Therapy Handicap in convincing style from top-weight Unique Journey.
Hassett added: “He wants it pure bottomless, so everything was lined-up for him today – the ground and a light weight. I couldn’t see him being beaten. It’s all about the ground – if there’s something for him next week, he’ll run, because the ground will turn soon enough and he could be off for four months.”
