Meriden gallops to glory at Cairn Rouge Stakes in Killarney, completes fantastic five-timer
AT A STRETCH: Meriden and Chris Hayes win for owners Patrick O'Brien and Charles Shanahan and trainer Denis Hogan.
Meriden completed a fantastic five-timer when lowering the colours of Royal Ascot victor Green Carrera in the listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Cairn Rouge Stakes, the feature race on day three of Killarney’s July festival.
Green Carrera was sent off the 2-1 favourite on the back of victory in the Sandringham Handicap last month but, after a sluggish start, the Joseph O’Brien-trained mare was on the backfoot from the get-go.
In contrast, Meriden, whose remarkable winning sequence began at Down Royal in late May, was always traveling kindly in the hands of Chris Hayes, ultimately crossing the line with a length and a half to spare to give her jockey another double after Tuesday’s brace.
“We always knew she was okay but she’s improved with every run, she’s stepped up every time and she’s done a lot very quick, it’s massive what she’s done in six or seven weeks,” a delighted winning trainer Denis Hogan said.
“We’ll have to look at a Group 3 with her now as she’s put a good mare to bed there. I just love her attitude, riding her out all week thinking that this mare has sharpened up from the Curragh but I haven’t been dipping her because she’s running so much you can’t empty her at home.
“Her whole attitude is just so good, it’s the hottest day of the year and there’s not an ounce of sweat out of her. She just does everything well, she has a real good mind. She’s exciting to have, a class filly.” Hogan completed a double in the finale, the Kitty O'Se's Seafood And Grill Restaurant Handicap, as 17-2 shot Loyal Touch landed the spoils in the hands of Daniel King.
Heaping praise on the jockey, Hogan said: “The man on board, I had said we might make the running here but that’s the difference, he’s just a natural rider. He put him in a place where he should have been in the race because of the pace. He sat back at halfway after me saying we might make the running but that’s why he’s top-class.
“I saw Tony Martin saying it two weeks ago and we’ve known it for a long time. Dan King should be in a big job, he’s very good, but the jobs are not there. I’ve been blessed. I’ve had Sean Bowen, Joey Sheridan, Dan King, a couple of more young lads coming along, but he’s as good as there is out there.”
Leg one of the Hayes brace came when the Dermot Weld-trained Kalir got the better of Cello Sonata by a neck in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
Hayes said: “It was nice to get the win but he did a lot of things wrong, he was quite gassy with me early, I don’t know why, because he’s normally very laidback, so there’s a bit of improvement to come on that side of things.
“I was confident the whole way up the straight and I’d say when he got there he probably thought he had enough done. He promises plenty at home and when he gets it together and matures a bit mentally, I think a better race will suit him.” Races five and six on the card were won by horses backing up quickly after weekend runs, the Willie McCreery-trained Bella Colombia winning the Executive Helicopters Handicap before Arch Enemy came out on top in the Start Your Free Month Trial At racingtv.com Handicap.
Of Bella Colombia, who finished third at Dundalk on Sunday, McCreery said: “That was grand. I declared because I thought the handicapper might throw us out of the 0-60s. When we got drawn one I said we’d run her, though I didn’t like to run her back so quickly. It’s more the heat and the travelling you’d be worried about at this time of year but she has a good constitution. She’s in a good frame of mind.” Arch Enemy was part of a sensational 3,984-1 across-the-card four-timer for Cavan trainer Paddy Magee on Saturday and completed a quickfire double here when swopping late under Sam Coen, the man who also steered Bella Colombia to victory.
Reflecting on a remarkable few days, Magee said: “It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, but to see her there bouncing around the ring we were thinking ‘this is on’. It’s kind of mad stuff but it’s brilliant.” South Dakota was sent off the 8-11 favourite for the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race but it was another St Mark’s Basilica colt who prevailed as 9-2 shot Venetian Power landed the spoils for Joseph O’Brien and Dylan Browne McMonagle.
Fourth to Giant Sequoia on debut in a Curragh maiden last month, Venetian Power took a big step forward here to beat Full Volume by half a length with South Dakota a further two lengths back in third.
“He stepped forward well from the first day,” Michael Halford, representing O’Brien, said of the winner. “We thought he would and his homework suggested that so it’s nice to see it here. He looks like a horse with a future.” Minaun View backed up last month’s Bellewstown win when making all to win the opening race, the O'Donoghue Ring Collection Optional Claiming Race, for trainer Ado McGuinness and jockey Patrick McGettigan.
“She’s after getting her confidence back,” McGuinness said after the 3-1 shot refused to be passed by the persistent Timandi, half a length separating the pair at the line.
“She had a lot of placed efforts before we got her and I suppose she gained a lot of confidence from the Bellewstown win. They came at her around the corner today and they came at her again up the straight but she toughed it out well.”
