Sparan Nua retains unbeaten record

The Dawn Approach filly, already successful in Naas and Gowran Park, was sent off 11/4 favourite and, despite showing signs of inexperience, came through strongly under Nathan Crosse.

Sun, 14 Jun, 2026 - 21:01

John Ryan

Carrying the colours of Newtown Anner Stud for the first time, the Jim Bolger-trained Sparan Nua retained her unbeaten record when landing the Group 3 Darley Munster Oaks in Cork.

The Dawn Approach filly, already successful in Naas and Gowran Park, was sent off 11/4 favourite and, despite showing signs of inexperience, came through strongly under Nathan Crosse and battled well to deny Nyra, whose rider, Dylan Brown McMonagle, lost his whip, by a half-length.

Jim Bolger commented: “I’m very happy with her. She’s learning on the job and we’re getting away with it. We didn’t know what to expect, stepping-up in trip and facing the older fillies.

“Nathan spoke to Declan (McDonogh) and Kevin Manning about her and they gave him instructions. And she won well.”

When quizzed about plans for Sparan Nua, he replied: “This is my first runner for her owner Maurice Regan – I’ll talk to him and see what he wants to do. But I wouldn’t be surprised if she ends up in the (Irish) Oaks, although she’ll have to be supplemented.

“There’s a lot of improvement in her. And there’s always races in France and England for her later in the year.”

Having ridden the biggest winner of his career, his first Group 3 victory, Cross added: “I was very happy to get on her. She races behind the bridle, but keeps finding. She’s so laid-back that it’s hard to know how good she is, where her ceiling is.”

Without a win since scoring on his debut for Joseph O’Brien in March 2024 and having his twelfth run for Stephen Thorne, Gleneagle Bay made a belated breakthrough when bagging the €100,000 Mallow Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Colin Keane.

The AMO-owned six-year-old hit the front at the furlong-pole before beating Headmaster by a length and three-quarters, prompting Thorne to declare: “At long last, he’s delivered for us.”

He added: “He’s run in all the big races and has been a bridesmaid on a number of occasions. I’m delighted for the AMO team – this is my first winner for them. Ground is important to him, so we might toy with the idea of running him on fast ground in the UK.”

Successful over course and distance last summer and a winner over in Bahrain in December, the Katie McGivern-trained Kendall Roy proved a shock winner of the listed Midsummer Sprint Stakes, coming through strongly under Chris Hayes to outpoint Likedbymike.

“It’s absolutely brilliant,” stated delighted trainer McGivern. “He was delayed coming home from Bahrain, with a bit of a virus, but has been in the form of his life. He’s at his best when he’s fresh, so I decided to keep him for a listed race. We missed Naas, because he wasn’t fit enough. And he loves Cork and fast ground, so we came here. He’ll go for the ‘Sapphire’ at the Curragh now.”

And winning rider Hayes added: “He worked very well last Tuesday, like a winner. We tried the cheekpieces to sharpen him and they worked. He got a bit agitated in the gates and jumped to his right, which set him back. But we got a nice tow and I was confident he’d pick them up.” Adrian Murray, representing Robson Aguilar, suggested that Ballinea Star will be aimed at the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes at the Curragh on June 27 following her win under Donagh O’Connor in the opening two-year-old fillies maiden.

And the Denis Hogan-trained Sarahmae, in foal to Blackbeard, landed a gamble in the Ryan’s Cleaning handicap, earning a crack at the ‘Rockingham’ at the Curragh.

In Downpatrick, the Henry de Bromhead-trained She’s A Fine Wine (Mike O’Connor), off a favourable hurdle mark, defied top-weight in the featured Irish Stallion Farms RBF Handicap Hurdle.

Dermot McLoughlin, who registered a double on Saturday, rounded off a great weekend at the northern track when Malbay Madness (Paddy O’Hanlon) proved a convincing winner of the Join Racing TV Now With A Free Trial Handicap Hurdle.

And thirty-four-race maiden In The Trenches belatedly opened his account when taking the Randow Maiden Hurdle for Gavin Cromwell and in-form 7lb claimer Eoghan Finegan.