Big Negotiator delivers for Twomey at Naas
BIG STATEMENT: Big Negotiator wins the Arqana Irish EBF Marwell 2-Y-0 Stakes in the hands of Wayne Lordan. Picture: Healy Racing
Trainer Paddy Twomey landed the listed Arqana Irish EBF Marwell 2-Y-0 Stakes in Naas, not with 6-5 favourite Concorde Landed but with battle-hardened 11-1 shot Big Negotiator, who made all under Wayne Lordan.
The winner was tracked for most of the journey by her stablemate and found plenty up the hill to see off second favourite Shimmering Sun by a length and a quarter.
“She’s a good, hardy, tough filly and this was her sixth run,” said Twomey. “She was unlucky here the last day against the colts, when she was carried across the track. She has strong form and I was surprised she was such a big price.”
The other listed event on the card, the Yeomanstown Stud Stakes went for export, for the third successive year, as the Karl Burke-trained 11-8 favourite Soul Love held off Dancing Saxon by a half-length, under Pierre Louis-Jamin.
“Here and Leopardstown have been lucky for us,” declared a delighted Burke. “This is such a tough filly, very game and genuine.
“To do that with a penalty was impressive. She’s pretty professional and we’ll try to find a Group 3 for her now. She’ll probably come back here for the Ballyogan [on August 23].”
Having drawn a blank at the Curragh over the weekend, Aidan O’Brien was on the mark when Man’s Best Friend, fourth on debut, landed the six-furlong two-year-old maiden at the expense of newcomer Zoar and favourite New Bond Street.
“He had a lovely first run, form that’s working out very well,” said O’Brien’s representative Chris Armstrong. “He’s a very professional colt, with a super attitude, and Wayne [Lordan] thinks he’s comfortable at six furlongs, but could go seven. He has plenty of good entries and we’ll see where Aidan wants to go.”
The Ger Lyons-trained Suzie Songs, placed at Group 2 level last season, returned to winning ways when outpointing her two rivals in the Naas Racecourse Race, giving Colin Keane his 53rd win of the domestic season.
“She’s been a frustrating girl,” stated Lyons. “Her two-year-old form was powerful. She has done a lot of growing but is still a work in progress.”
And the Ado McGuinness-trained Eddie G is Galway-bound following his narrow 18-1 win, under Adam Caffrey, who received a two-day careless riding ban, in the seven-furlong NFP Handicap.
Earlier, on Wexford’s all-chase card, Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe shared an early double with Full Of Life and Sky Lord, both helped by their fencing experience.
After watching Full Of Life get the better of market rival Future Prospect by a length in the opening Wexford Town Mared Beginners Chase, the trainer stated: “She ran well in the mares’ novice in Cheltenham but disappointed at Punchestown. We gave her a break and she had experience over fences, which helped. She jumps and gallops and two miles on nice ground is her gig. She’s a decent mare and I hope she can progress over fences.”
The Knockeen double was completed when 6-4 joint-favourite Sky Lord landed the Wexfordraces.ie Beginners Chase by 70 lengths from Centreofattention in a race which saw only two of the six runners complete the course.
“He jumped and travelled really well,” said the trainer. “Darragh was happy to hang on to him until turning in and he picked up well. He has probably been a bit disappointing but, in fairness, he couldn’t have done any more out there. The drop in trip suited him and he might turn the corner after this – we’ll have to try him of 126.”
The most impressive winner of the evening was the Sam Curling-trained mare Queenofthelodge, a four-time winner over hurdles, who made a successful start over fences in the Wexford Quay Beginners Chase, coasting home 11 lengths clear of marker rival Los Blanco.
“I think she’ll be a better chaser than hurdler,” said Curling. “She’ll go for a ladies flat race in Tramore next month and then the Kilbegnet in Roscommon in September.”
Phillip Enright, who rode Queenofthelodge, completed a double when the Andy Slattery-trained 9-4 favourite Ceroc made it 15th time lucky over fences in the WTW Willis Handicap Chase.
And Harry Cobden registered his first success at Wexford when giving 3-1 favourite Anodandawink, trained for JP McManus by Ciaran Murphy, an enterprising ride to land the 0-100 finale by ten lengths from veteran Fr Gilligansvoyge.
