Ipanema Queen captures the €50,000 Doneraile Handicap in Cork
Ipanema Queen & Donagh O'Connor (right) win the Doneraile Handicap from Erosandpsyche and Kendall Roy. Picture: Healy Racing.
Ipanema Queen, a listed winner in Dundalk last October and dropping from Group 2 company, captured the €50,000 Doneraile Handicap in Cork, outpointing Erosandpsyche and Kendall Roy in a blanket finish before surviving a stewards' enquiry.
The Robson De Aguiar-trained filly got home by a short-head, prompting her rider Donagh O’Connor, who received a four-day whip ban, to explain; “She’s tough and has plenty of natural speed. This was the first time she got a track and trip that suited her, on fast ground.
“She’s been highly tried and remains very enthusiastic. And she should progress more with racing.”
Narrowly denied in the feature with top-weight Kendall Roy, Katie McGivern and Chris Hayes had struck earlier with Bellewstown winner Grayrobin (9/1) in the five-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Rated Race.
The Havana Grey colt bounced from the stalls, made all and was never threatened, coming home a length and a quarter clear of Lars Soldier and Star Prospect.
“His work last Friday really impressed me,” stated the winning rider. “We got three lengths out of the gates, I let him stride along and he showed plenty of speed. He feels like a nice horse.”
And Katie McGivern explained; “We’ve always thought a lot of him and he did it well. Everything was straight-forward and I’m happy he was able to showcase what he has.
“We were confident enough coming here after his work last week. He pit his neck on the line and there should be a lot more to come. He’s for sale but, if we still have him, he’ll probably go for a listed race at the Curragh (Curragh Stakes on August 16) and then the ‘Flying Five’ in Doncaster.”
A work rider in Ballydoyle since his return from England 18 months ago, Liam Keniry registered his first success in Ireland in 26 years when landing the opening auction series two-year-old maiden on uneasy 8/11 favourite Hanney Boy.
Place in his four previous starts, including a listed event in Naas, he showed speed throughout before holding the late surge of newcomer Blooming Sally by just a short head.
“Evanna (McCutcheon) has done a very good job with him – he’s been very consistent,” said Keniry.
“He has loads of pace, which is his main asset. It was his first time on fast ground. We went quick enough, which meant it was set up for closers, and he did well to hang on.”
McCutcheon added; “He’s fast horse and had the experience. I’d say he’ll run in England, over five, or we might try six furlongs again.”
Hot pot of the evening Alphonsus Liquori, ridden for Joseph O’Brien by Dylan Browne McMonagle, produced a workmanlike display to see off Holy Lettuce by three lengths in the Buy Tickets Online Median Auction Race, justifying 1/20 favouritism.
The champion-jockey, who commented “it was straight-forward. He’s lazy but kept pulling out and there’s a lot more to come,” completed a double when the Paul Flynn-trained Amethyst Stone (22/1) got the better of Millhone in the finale.
Also in double form was Ronan Whelan, successful on Johnny Feane’s Finika, who made virtually all to take the Navigation Road Maiden at the expense of favourite Stooked.
Whelan delivered again when Jarlath Fahey’s El Fontenaro, a frustrating nineteen-race maiden, belatedly opened his account in the Jim Ryan Racecourse Services Handicap.
In Kilbeggan, the Honeysuckle colours of Kenny Alexander were successful when Rusty Harkness, trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe, justified 5/6 favouritism in the three-mile Hurley Family Maiden Hurdle.
“He was entitled to win his maiden and is a big chaser in the making,” said Robbie Power, representing the winning trainer.
“He’s home-bred, which makes it more special, and he’ll be going over fences sooner rather than later.”
Sam Ewing gave the Noel Meade-trained Golden Temple a plucky ride to land the featured Egan Stone Kilbeggan Handicap Chase, squeezing through on the inside of Rexem on the run-in and getting home by a neck from that rival to register his first chase win.
The father and son combination of Conor and Charlie O’Dwyer struck on the double for owner J P McManus, with horses inherited following the retirement of Dessie MdDonogh.
In For The Night (17/2) coasted to an easy win in the Tote Handicap Hurdle while Luimneach (15/2) survived a last fence mistake to break his duck over fences in the finale, the Racing Again 8th August Handicap Chase.
