James J Braddock lands knockout blow
VICTORY SNATCHED: James J Braddock gets up to deny Pierre Bonnard in the Group 3 Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown. Picture: Healy Racing
James J Braddock, middle leg of a Sunday treble for Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle, pounced late to foil Ballydoyle pair Pierre Bonnard and Endorsement in the Group 3 Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial at Leopardstown.
Well beaten on his seasonal bow in the Ballysax, the Zarak colt challenged late as uneasy odds-on favourite Pierre Bonnard struggled to get past his front-running stable-companion and got up on the line to prevail by a short-head and a neck.
“We were worried about the fast ground, but he coped with it and was tough,” said O’Brien. “We were hoping he’d run well and be a King Edward horse, so this has exceeded our expectations.
“It looked all the way up the straight that the line would come too soon, but his last hundred yards were very good.
“All options are open, including Epsom and Ascot, so we’ll have to discuss things with his owners. But I’m sure he’ll turn up in nice races throughout the season.”
Runner-up in his two previous starts, the O’Brien-trained Cannes looked a potentially smart stayer when justifying 4-5 favouritism and initiating the Carriganóg treble in the Captain Dara Fitzpatrick Memorial Maiden, readily outpointing market rival Almazann.
“He’s a nicely-bred colt and had two nice runs,” said the winning trainer. “I’m hoping the best is yet to come from him. He has some big entries, but we might look at a three-year-old handicap next.”
Browne McMonagle provided the third leg of the treble and registered his ninth win since his recent return from injury when 9-4 favourite Johanna Walsh made it third time lucky in the fillies’ maiden, making all to beat Believed in good style.
“She’s a nice filly and we were keen to get her on a bigger track and let her roll,” said O’Brien. “ The logical thing is to go for an Oaks trial next, maybe the Blue Wind in Naas.” Enjoying an incredible run of form, Paddy Twomey made it 10 winners from his last 11 runners thanks to a stakes-race double with City Of Memphis and Catalina Delcarpio, a brace which brought stable-jockey Billy Lee’s seasonal tally to 21.
City Of Memphis stepped-up to take the Group 3 Al Shira’aa Racing ‘Mutamakina’ (Fillies) Stakes, hitting the front at the furlong-pole before beating Signora by a length and a half.
“She’s a very good filly,” declared Twomey, who had recorded his first hurdle success earlier with Arouet in Cork. “She’s been lightly-raced but I hope she can make up for lost time.
“She’s in the (Group 2) Lanwades Stud Stakes at the Curragh on Guineas weekend and that would be perfect for her – the mile will be no problem. And I’d say she’ll do very well later in the season.” Twomey and Lee struck again when Catalina Delcarpio swooped inside the final furlong to foil Tokenomics and Excellent Believe in the listed Porsche In Support Of Breast Cancer Ireland Amethyst Stakes.
“She’s a filly with a lot of class,” said the trainer. “It was a case of trainer error last year, trying to stretch her out to a mile and a half. She was ready to start today over a mile and we decided to drop her in.
“She’ll have no problem stepping back up to a mile and a quarter. We have City Of Memphis and One Look for the Lanwades, so a race like the Pretty Polly might be right up her street.”
And Lee completed a personal treble when producing Truth Be Told, on his stable debut for Michael Grassick, to get the better of Kilcrea Rock in the Leopardstown Gold, Padel, Range Handicap.
The only other jockey to hit the target was Ben Coen, who recorded a 48-1 double on Ciarán Murphy’s Halon Bay in the opening maiden and recent Cork winner Darius Dar, for his boss Johnny Murtagh, in the Breast Cancer Ireland 3-Y-0 Handicap.
