Surrounding eases to a smooth win
‘SHE’S a very sound filly, genuine and a pleasure to have around the place…she’s taken off this year and has never stopped improving.’
The words of trainer Michael Halford after Surrounding (10/11 fav), who was ridden by Ronan Whelan, was a comfortable winner of the €60,000 Al Basti Equiworld Irish EBF Cooley Fillies Stakes at Dundalk on Friday last, a race she also won in 2018.
It was the Peter Newell-owned filly’s third Listed Race win of the season and she could now head for the Dubai World Cup Carnival that runs from January 2nd until March 7th, followed by the hugely-valuable Dubai World Cup night in Meydan on March 28th.
The Cooley Stakes was also a Fast-Track Qualifier for the valuable All-Weather Championship Finals at Lingfield on April 10th.
Having gained her first success as a jockey on Geological at Dundalk recently, Vanessa Maye gained her second as the same horse landed the Dundalk Stadium – Light Up Your Night Handicap for trainer Damian English at 10/1.
Damian said afterwards: ‘Vanessa’s a very good rider. She keeps horses balanced and doesn’t complicate things.’
Geological’s story is amazing: Damian bought him for Grougha Stables for 800 guineas and he has now won around €190,000 for connections.
There were a trio of firsts on the card.
Racing in cheek-pieces for the first time May Remain (8/1), ridden by Gavin Ryan, won the BetVictor Bet €5 Get €30 Offer Handicap for County Kilkenny-based trainer Pat Murphy.
Also racing in cheek-pieces for the first time, Guiding (25/1), ridden by Gary Halpin, landed the second division of the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap for County Kildare trainer Shane Nolan.
And, racing for the first time since a gelding operation, These Days (5/1), ridden by Niall McCullagh, won the Lengthen The Odds
With BetVictor Maiden for trainer Ken Condon, who has had a very good season from his relatively new base in Rathbride, County Kildare, one that includes Group 1 success at the Deauville festival in France with Romanised.
On his third run for trainer Dermot Anthony McLoughlin, but his first for him over one mile, Crafty Hugo (7/1) was a comfortable winner of the second division of the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap in the hands of promising apprentice Dylan Browne McMonagle.
The winner is owned by the DOCK Partnership, among whose members is Racing TV presenter, racecourse commentator and hugely-respected broadcaster and pundit Gary O’Brien, who was on hand to greet the winner.
Having witnessed a smart performance from the Aidan O’Brientrained Vatican City at Dundalk last Wednesday, there was another exciting two-year-old win as the John McConnell-trained Corrienthes (18/1), ridden by Rory Cleary, beat another promising two-yearold, Big Gossey, in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
The winner is owned by Wendy O’Leary, whose husband Eddie is racing manager to his brother Michael’s Gigginstown House Stud, hugely successful owners of National Hunt horses in Ireland.
As is generally the case with eye-catching maiden winners at Dundalk, it is likely offers will come from abroad for the promising colt.
Having gained a first career win last month at Dundalk, ridden by Alan Glynn, the Jessica Harrington-trained Sweet Dime (6/1) gained a second - the Christmas Party Nights At Dundalk Handicap - in the hands of Tom Madden.
Dundalk will race again this Wednesday (first race 2.15pm for what will be Dundalk Institute of Technology Students Union day) and on Friday (first race 5.45 unless a race divides, in which case it will be 5.10 or 5.15pm), where the feature race will be the €25,000 Floodlit Friday Nights Handicap.