Hayes points Pepper to shock Ballyogan win

16/1 SHOT STRIKES LATE TO FOIL FAVOURITE

PENNY PEPPER pounced late under Chris Hayes to foil favourite Only Mine in the Group 3 TRM Ballyogan Stakes, yesterday’s feature in the Curragh. The 16/1 shot, trained by Kevin Prendergast for owner-breeder John Tuthill, prevailed by a head in a three-way photo-finish, with front running Alphabet a similar distance away third. “This was her best day in the sun,” quipped Prendergast. “She’s in foal to Dragon Pulse and this is probably the end of the road for her, unless John changes his mind. She’s been working well and we were hoping she’d run well. She loves that soft ground. And her job is done.” Penny Pepper’s last-gasp success crowned a good weekend for jockey Chris Hayes, right, who won Saturday’s premier three-year-old sprint handicap on Fozzy Stack’s Son Of Rest. He defied the welter burden of 9-13 in great style, giving a massive 30lb to runner-up Patuano. Still savouring Wexford’s victory over Kilkenny on Saturday night, Jim Bolger shared a double with stable-jockey Kevin Manning, highlighted by Glamorous Approach’s gutsy victory in the listed TRI Equestrian Silver Stakes. The 4/1 shot made most of the running and stayed on powerfully in the closing stages to beat favourite Laganore by a length and a quarter. The Bolger/manning double had been initiated when Strike For Freedom got the better of another newcomer Moghamarah by a neck in the four-runner two-year-old maiden. Bolger indicated the winner, a son of Dream Ahead, might now be aimed at the Tyros Stakes in Leopardstown. Out of luck with his raiders in Auteuil, Willie Mullins also suffered a reverse in the Curragh finale as debutante High Haven, owned by Ballylinch Stud and ridden by Danny Mullins, was disqualified, having hampered and beaten the Joseph O’brien-trained Mr Everest, ridden by Donnacha.

GUTSY VICTORY Glamorous Approach’s win at the Curragh yesterday was the highlight of a Bolger/manning double