Folson Blues impresses at Gowran Park to spark O'Brien across-the-card treble
Folsom Blues and Dylan Browne McMonagle won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Gowran Park for Joseph O'Brien. Pic: HEALY RACING
A promising third on his debut at the Curragh, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Folsom Blues delivered impressively in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-O Maiden at Gowran Park.
The Blue Point colt made all and, when Dylan Browne McMonagle elected to head for the stand rail turning for home, it soon became clear that he had his rivals in trouble.
The 4/9 favourite ran on strongly to beat Lunar Empress by seven and a half lengths, prompting his trainer to state, “He was an eye-catcher at the Curragh and we were happy that he was ready to go seven furlongs. He was very impressive and I think he’s a smart colt. The ‘Tyros” (at Leopardstown next month) looks an obvious stepping-stone for him.”
Folsom Blues sparked a Gowran Park double and an across-the-card treble for Joseph O’Brien, his final winner of the day when 1/12 shot Trustyourinstinct landed the Packages At www.gowranpark.ie Race under Dylan Browne McMonagle, who was in treble form.
The J P McManus-owned, 109-rated six-year-old was winning this race for the third time (he won in 2023 and 2024) but had to be driven out to beat 77-rated Leopold The First by a length and a half.
“He hadn’t won for a while and that should do his confidence good,” said O’Brien, “Dylan said he had a good look around in front. He’ll be heading back into stakes company now – he could go to the Curragh on Derby weekend. And the ‘Martin Molony’ (in Limerick) and ‘Lenabane’ (Roscommon) are other possibilities."
O’Brien’s other winner was Cowardofthecounty, who, under a fine ride by Declan McDonogh, registered his first win in almost two years in the Pat’s Carpets Race in Fairyhouse.
O’Brien commented, “He’s better in small fields, so the race suited him well. We’ll try to find a listed race for him next.”
Dylan Browne McMonagle completed his treble when the Andy Oliver-trained Faro Island prevailed by a short head over Elusive Duke in the Gowran Park Handicap.
Trainer Andy Slattery doubled up at the County Kilkenny venue, taking the one-mile 0-60 handicap with top-weight Queen Aethelflaed (Orla Tynan) before Ulster Derby entry Fallacy (Sam Coen), reluctant to load, made all and ran away with the nine-furlong apprentice handicap, beating Rapide Vega by no less than twelve lengths.
Second on debut at the Curragh, Jessica Harrington’s even-money favourite Switching Sides (Shane Foley), opened his account in the Fairyhouse opener, holding off promising newcomers Just One Show and slow-starter Trean.
Rion Rubette (Paddy Harnett) confirmed recent course and distance form with front-running favourite Greydreambeliever in the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap over seven furlongs.
The 13/2 shot got up on the line to score by a short-head. And Mick Butler (Junior) commented, “She’s hard work but she’s tough. That should leave her spot-on for the €100,000 fillies handicap at the Curragh on the Saturday of Derby weekend.”
The Butler team completed a 55/1 across-the-card double when Wipeawayyourtears landed the Fairyhouse finale, the Kate O’Sullivan Memorial Handicap, in the hands of Gavin Ryan.
Also in Fairyhouse, Colin Keane completed a double on Claire O’Connell’s Dervo Annie (7/4 favourite) in a division of the 0-60 six-furlong handicap and Noel Meade’s twice-raced Dreamkeeper, who scampered clear to land the median auction maiden by ten lengths from favourite Now Maybe.
