Foley strikes for 134/1 treble at Leopardstown
Shane Foley completed a treble when Echo Inferno won the 1878 At 3Arena Maiden. Pic: Healy Racing Photo
Before heading to Newmarket this morning and back to Royal Ascot tomorrow, Shane Foley completed a fine 134/1 treble on Apollo’s Comet, Heliogabalus and Echo Inferno in Leopardstown.
Also first leg of a double for Jessica Harrington Apollo’s Comet, promising on her debut in Fairyhouse, prevailed in a blanket-finish to the Irish EBF Auction Series 2-Y-0 Race, pipping by Sea Of Rain by a nose and prompting Kate Harrington to comment, “She’s a lovely filly for next year and had a lovely first run in Fairyhouse, where she didn’t get the clearest of runs.
“This was a nice opportunity for her – she just did enough and got there. We’ll give her a bit of time and bring her back at the end of July.”
Foley struck again on Sean Byrne’s seasonal debutant Heliogabalus in the Bulmers Live Handicap, the 14/1 shot getting home by a neck from Zaraahmando.
The trainer’s son and namesake stated, “We thought we had him fit enough, but you never know until they run. He’s a big horse, getting stronger all the time and the plan is to go back to Galway.”
And Foley rounded off his treble and gave Harrington the second leg of her double when Echo Inferno arrived with a well-timed challenge to deny Sakoku in the 1878 At 3Arena Maiden over a mile and five furlongs.
“We liked him last year, but he was weak and we probably shouldn’t have run him in bad ground in Tipperary,” said Foley, “He had a nice first run back and came on plenty. He just outstayed them all out there and should take another step forward.”
Also in double form were Ado McGuinness and Adam Caffrey, who struck with Goal Exceeded and Johnny Soda.
Without a win since May of last year, Goal Exceeded pounced late to take the seven-furlong 0-70 handicap at the expense of Send Henry.
And McGuinness said, “He’s been frustrating. If he’s alright, he’ll probably head to the Curragh next weekend.” Johnny Soda came through strongly to beat Glitter And Glory and Krasimir in the BOYLE Sports Rated Race.
“Adam told me not to run him on that ground, but I spoke to the lads and we were happy to let him take his chance," explained McGuinness, “He’s a big, heavy-topped horse but he handled it okay. We might put him away and head for the west (Galway) with him.”
