Jagged Edge makes stakes breakthrough at Killarney
Jagged Edge and Jack Kearney won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Vincent O'Brien Ruby Stakes for Stephen Thorne at Killarney. Pic: Healy Racing
Jagged Edge, trained for Shamrock Thoroughbreds by Stephen Thorne, made his stakes breakthrough when mastering front-running Carolina Jetstream to land the listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Vincent O’Brien Ruby Stakes in Killarney.
Jack Kearney went the shortest route on the 7/2 shot, tracking the leaders, getting a dream run up the inside of the leader and asserting inside the final furlong to score by a length and a quarter, with favourite Hardy Warrior a similar distance away third.
“It’s been a quiet turf season, so I’m delighted to get a stakes winner, for myself, the syndicate and Jack,” said Thorne, “He’s a proper horse. He was very sick in the spring and we’re still only getting to know him. And he’s been thriving over the last few months.
“We thought about defending his Cambridgeshire crown next week, under top-weight, but decided to come here instead. He’s a real stakes horse. We’re probably finished with handicaps, although he’ll get an entry in the Balmoral Handicap in Ascot on Champions Day. Otherwise, he’ll be heading for a Group 3 and could travel.”
Apprentice Reese Holohan gave the Ted Walsh-trained mare Gaoth Chuil a dashing ride to land the other €50,000 event on the card, the Kellihers Toyota Kingdom Gold Cup, coming from sixth position early in the final furlong to get up close home and beat joint-favourite Light Up The Dark by a half-length in a blanket-finish.
“She’s a right little mare,” declared Walsh, “I made a mistake running over fences and this is her job. The ground in Galway was unraceable for flat horses and, in fairness, Chris Hayes looked after her.
“I’m delighted for her owner Michael Ryan – he’s been with me since my father died in 1990 and is a great owner. I didn’t enter her for the Cesarewitch, so she’ll probably go for the November Handicap.”
Trainer David Marnane stated, “He’s a very, very good horse, but a little bit idle,” after Manton Bay justified 13/8 favouritism in the CSG 3-Y-O Rated Race, “Luke (McAteer) said he coasted up to win well, but only did enough when he got there.” The Ulysses colt prevailed by a half-length from Totally Puzzled.
And Marnane added, “He’s in the Cambridgeshire next week and will probably run. There have been a few offers for him from Hong Kong, so we’ll see what happens.”
Placed in three of her five starts, Joseph O’Brien’s Seaxburh got off the mark on her handicap debut when running out a convincing winner of the opening nursery, slamming Maggie Walker by three and a half lengths.
“The step up to a mile brought the best out of her,” said Declan McDonogh, “I was able to get relaxed and got cover. She picked up nicely and hit the line well.”
Henry de Bromhead completed an across-the-card double, sparked by La Cote Fleurie, a 29th winner of the season for Darragh O’Keeffe, in Kilbeggan’s novice hurdle and completed when apprentice Gabriella Hill partnered Trubshaw (7/1) to an all-the-way win in Killarney’s apprentice handicap.
Also in Kilbeggan, Ciaran Murphy, who registered a treble at the last meeting, struck on the double, Puppet Master, winner of last year’s Lingfield Derby Trial for Aidan O’Brien, opening his hurdling account when foiling even-money favourite Kimi De Mai in the opening maiden. Curragh To Curragh Charity Cycle Maiden Hurdle.
Murphy, successful again when favourite Hill Silver pipped Bellahill in the bumper, explained, “He’s had a few issues. We’ll mix it with him flat and hurdles, and he’ll be a nice horse in the spring.”
Eoghan Finnegan, who rode Puppet Master, completed a double when evergreen thirteen-year-old Fr Gilligansvoyge followed-up his recent Tramore win in the New Forest Estate & Golf Club Handicap Chase.
And course specialist A Wave Of The Sea (9/1), in the colours of J P McManus, recorded his fourth win at the midlands track when landing the featured Belvedere House & Gardens Handicap Chase for Shane Broderick and in-form 3lb claimer Charlie O’Dwyer.
