Money Monster despite issues still showing his talent
Money Monster’s encouraging win in the I’msatisfied Trophy feature on Saturday (September 12) brought a sigh of major relief to his breeder, owner and trainer Fitzroy Glispie.
Yet, even after that victory, Glispie said that he is unsure where his charge would go next.
“Two weeks ago, Money Monster came off a six-month break and finished second going 6 ½ furlongs, which left me really pleased with that performance. So, coming back today (Saturday, Sept 12) over the distance of nine furlongs and 25 yards (1820 metres), I expected him to win, and, thankfully, he did.
“I’m not sure where we go from here as he has issues. I will just have to go home and see how he comes out of the race before any forthright decision can be made for his next assignment.
“Yes, he (Money Monster) shows that he is improving but as I have indicated before, he has issues, but he is a very good horse and as it stands I cannot get to train him as I would like to. But this performance is encouraging,” Glispie said.
Money Monster was the first to show on the lead from the off, carrying the field around the clubhouse turn but he surrendered the lead to
Weekend Jazz (Dick Cardenas) and Akeem the Dream (Omar Walker) entering the main track.
The three front-runners were tightly grouped down the backstretch before navigating involved with horses at the age of 11, went on to form a formidable alliance with master Trainer Dermot Weld, taking over in 1999 from another the half-mile turn when Money Monster surged to the front and continued to extend his lead along the way.
The three-year-old bay gelding responded in deep stretch and powered home to riding great – Mick Kinane. Among their greatest triumphs was the Derby at Epsom in 2016 with Harzand. The pair went on to secure the Irish win convincingly over Sencity (Dane Nelson) and Tomohawk (Anthony Thomas).
Money Monster (Casual Trick – She’s Traditional), with Reyan Lewis in the irons, sped to a 3 ¼ lengths victory
Derby and cement the legacy of a rider who enjoyed his first victory at Dundalk on June 11, 1993.
Smullen leaves behind his wife, Frances, and their three children – Hannah, Paddy, and Sarah.
Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said: “Pat was one of our greatest stars. He was nine-time champion jockey, but in many ways his greatest achievements were out of the saddle. Since his diagnosis, he did wonderful work fund-raising for charity and he battled this disease with great heart, and it’s hard to believe he has passed at such a young age. All our thoughts are with Frances and his three children, Hannah, Paddy, and Sarah, and all his friends and colleagues in the weighing room.
“It’s a really sad day for Irish racing. Pat was one of the finest men you could hope to meet. There’s been such a in smart time of 1:57.0 for the distance.
It was the first time in Money Monster’s eighth career starts that he was going two-turns although he has shown that he loves the long races.
reaction around Irish racing and such a degree of shock, which shows the high regard in which Pat was held. He was a pleasure to have anything to do with – his achievements in the saddle were one thing, but his qualities outside of it were something else. He was a global figure in racing, but his reaction to his diagnosis and the fund-raising he did last year in particular was really wonderful. It’s just a sad, sad day.”
The charity race at the Curragh came exactly a year ago and was won by Sir Anthony Mccoy aboard the Sheila Lavery-trained Quizical.
Paying his tribute, Mccoy said: “Devastated, there’s no words. It’s hard to believe his amazing charity race was a year ago today. Heartbreaking. Thinking about Fran, Hannah, Paddy, and Sarah. RIP champ.”