Poignant success for Femme Magnifique in Tramore
POIGNANT: Femme Magnifique won the Walsh King Accountants Handicap Steeplechase for the DQ Number Eleven Syndicate. Pic: Healy Racing Photo.
Femme Magnifique was a poignant winner of the Walsh King Accountants Handicap Chase at Tramore on Friday evening, landing the spoils for trainer Harry Kelly, jockey Danny Gilligan, and DQ Number Eleven Syndicate.
The syndicate was formed in memory of Dillon Quirke, the Tipperary hurler who tragically died aged just 24 in 2022 from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) while playing for Clonoulty-Rossmore at Semple Stadium.
Femme Magnifique was making her first start for Kelly, who was quick to pay tribute to previous trainer Paul Kiely as well as the winning syndicate.
“I’m delighted to have her, the Dillon Quirke syndicate sent her to me,” Kelly said. “She came from Paul Kiely’s, she came in great nick, and we got a rub of the green today. I’m delighted for the lads.” The 7-1 shot was supposed to be ridden by Cian Quirke, a cousin of Dillon, but he was still feeling the effects of a fall at Limerick on Thursday so Gilligan stepped in.
Kelly added: “It’s unfortunate for Cian who was due to ride her but Danny Gilligan did a great job. He sat where he was comfortable, let her find her feet, and came home well."
Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue combined to win the first two races on the card.
In the first race, the Get A Free Month Trial Of Racing TV Now racingtv.com/freetrial Beginners Chase, 11-4 favourite Journey So Far made most of the running en route to an emphatic 13-length victory over A Snow White Park.
Endless Talking had to work harder to win the Tramore Derby July 7th Beginners Chase but the 11-8 favourite ultimately got the job done by two and three-quarter lengths, despite an awkward jump at the last.
The winning jockey said: “We went a good gallop and I got into it easy but when I let him go he did idle a little bit in front and I was just a little long at the last, it was probably the first time where I asked him properly and he did well to find a leg. I thought it was a good performance.” On a good evening for punters, 11-10 favourite Poetic Twist ended a frustrating run of seconditis by winning the Success Days At Kilbarry Lodge Stud Mares Maiden Hurdle for Gordon Elliott and Sam Ewing.
The five-year-old, who has found one too good in each of her last three starts, jumped to her left at times but was ultimately too good for Mysilverriverfeale, two and three-quarter lengths separating the pair at the line.
“We made the running and she lugged a bit left the whole way around but that might have been down to a lack of company,” Ewing said. “But it didn’t stop her, she did it very well. We fancied her today and it’s nice to get her off the mark.” Zolpharine became the fourth successful favourite of the evening when winning the Tramore Handicap Hurdle at odds of 5-2.
Successful over fences at Limerick last week, the eight-year-old ran out a smooth winner in the hands of Daniel King, leaving winning trainer John Ryan in two minds about whether to let his in-form charge take his chance back over the bigger obstacles on Saturday’s Tramore card.
Ryan said: “He’s a smasher, isn’t he? It took me a long time to get him right. He got a fall schooling after winning his maiden hurdle and it took me a long, long time to get him right but we got him right. He looks progressive now, even though he’s an eight-year-old.” The trainer added: “I don’t know if I’ll run him tomorrow, it’s a bit soon, but if we do run him he could win again. He’s a grand horse for the summer.” A change in tactics paid dividends on Splashing Out in the Graun Hill Suite Hospitality Packages At tramoreraces.ie Handicap Hurdle.
Jockey Peter Smithers opted to make the running with the 6-1 shot and eight-year-old loved it in front, cruising to an eight-length win over 5-4 favourite Eastmore.
“She enjoyed herself out in front so I’m delighted to get that with her,” winning trainer Eoin Griffin said. “They did a lovely job with the ground so we were able to run her and we decided to change things up with her. She has been frustrating to train, she’s had a few races won before snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. But she did it well there and there might be another one in her.” The finale, a bumper for lady jockeys, was won by the Robert Tyner-trained One Day In May, who scored at odds of 2-1.
Winning jockey Anna McGuinness said: “The plan going out was to keep it simple and in fairness to Robert and his team, he had this mare spot-on for today. It’s brilliant to get the result.”
