Eleven from 16 a fine return
Strength of Wexford’s dominance emphasised again
THE STRENGTH of Wexford’s dominance in the point-to-point arena was emphasised once again when proper racing returned for the first time since mid-December with special meetings for four- and five-year-olds at Mallow on Saturday and Tipperary on Sunday. Wexford connections were involved with eleven of the 16 winners.
It was a particularly good day for the Doyle brothers and their Monbeg, Ballindaggin, operations at Mallow with four of them among the winners, with younger brother Eamonn getting in on the action along with the more established Seán, Donnchadh and Cormac.
Seán’s name was on debutant American Mike (by Mahler) who ran away with Division 1 of the four-year-old geldings maiden by 20 lengths, but it was revealed that the horse’s training is supervised by Eamonn. Jamie Scallan (Tomhaggard) is in good form and did the steering here.
A distant second was High Class Hero under Brian Lawless for Matthew Flynn-O’Connor from Bunclody; third was Card Dealer for James Walsh and Donnchadh Doyle, and Denis Murphy’s Sergeant Moss was fourth for Simon Cavanagh.
It was Cormac Doyle’s turn in Division 2, with Cool Survivor (Westerner) winning by four lengths under Jack Hendrick (Mayglass), from Seán’s Serious Charges under Scallan, with Colin Bowe’s Money Heist third for Barry O’Neill.
Donnchadh Doyle took up the baton in Division 1 of the fiveyear-old mares maiden with First Glance (Passing Glance) ridden by James Walsh, just three parts of a length ahead of Barry O’Neill on Bowe’s Ramble West, with Cormac Doyle’s Luck of the Duck third under Hendrick.
Division 2 went to Denis Murphy’s Scarlet Witch (Masked Marvel), ridden by Luke Murphy; their task was made easier when Bowe’s Peters Peppy fell at the last when less than a length adrift.
The day began with Bowe and O’Neill scoring in the four-year-old mares race with Jenny Flex (Walk In The Park), ten lengths ahead of stablemate Harry’s Hottie under James Kenny.
The Wexford run was ended in race six, the five-year-old geldings maiden which drew 45 runners divided into three divisions. Mick Goff’s front-running Wilson Wolf was very much in it in Division 1 when falling two out, leaving Harvie Wallbanger clear for Cork handler Mattie Collins. Charlie Uberalles stayed on for second for Duncormick’s Seán Staples and Michael Murphy of Redbridge stables.
In Division 2 yet another of John Nallen’s Minella brand began the road to possible future stardom with Minella Crooner winning under Johnny Barry, from Scipion for O’Neill and Bowe. Will he follow in the hoof prints of Minella Indo (Cheltenham Gold Cup winner) and Minella Times (Grand National winner on Saturday)?
The name comes from Nallen’s Hotel Minella in Clonmel.
In the concluding Division 3, Loughderg Rocco was closing fast for Luke Murphy and Denis Murphy but just could not catch the front-running Ingenious Stroke under Darragh Allen, which was a first winner for Rosemary Connors from Woodside in Waterford.
The action moved to Tipperary on Sunday and there were six Wexford winners from the eight races, with doubles for Barry O’Neill and Jamie Codd bringing the total for the weekend to eleven from 16.
O’Neill and Colin Bowe won the opening four-year-old mares maiden with North of Nashville (by Soldier of Fortune) by three lengths, with main contender Weather Lady departing at the third last.
They completed the double in Division 2 of the four-year-old geldings maiden with Chianti Classico (Shantou), making all to see off Jamie Scallan on Seán Doyle’s Stumptown.
Codd opened his account in Division 1 of the five-year-old mares maiden on Aazza for Jim Dreaper, with Donnchadh Doyle getting third just four lengths back with Endless Escape under James Walsh.
Codd’s second came in Division 3 of the five-year-old geldings maiden with Denis Murphy’s owned and trained Coachman (Maresca Sorrento), ahead of Shane O’Rourke on Johnny Berry’s The Questioner and Michael Goff’s Greatd D’Ange.
O’Rourke and Berry also combined to win Division 2 with Reserve
Judgement (Ocavango) for Liam Gahan, five lengths ahead of James Walsh on Donnchadh Doyle’s Kingofthewest. They had a bit of luck as Salamanca Bay for Jack Hendrick and handler Jonathan Fogarty was well clear when falling at the last.
Gaia Du Gouet (Saddler Maker) was an impressive winner for Andy and Paul Pierce (Killurin) in Division 2 of the five-year-old mares maiden under Seán Staples, Duncormick. Four lengths back in second was Crazy Crazy under Aaron Sinnott (Enniscorthy) for Martin Corrigan.
Two more racecourse meetings for four- and five-year-olds will be held at Fairyhouse on Saturday and Sunday.