Boy proves To Be A Diamond...
Following on from his winner at Lisronagh on Saturday, trainer Jonathan Fogarty was also back amongst the winners at Sunday last’s well supported Kilkenny Foxhounds meet staged at Damma House, near Kilkenny.
Fogarty saddled the 85k May store sale Quantum Boy (ev-4/6) to a facile 40L victory in the opening 4yr old maiden for which eight went to post.
The progeny of Diamond Boy was always to the fore, under Derek O’Connor, from the outset and when the long-time leader Ailt An Chorrain (4-7), under James Hannon, made a slight mistake at the third last, O’Connor seized the opportunity on board Quantum Boy to edge on. From here the half-brother to Bravemansgame was never unduly punished, going on to score in emphatic fashion by 40L from Ailt An Chorrain.
Successful trainer Jonathan Fogarty was on hand to greet his winner stating “Look he cost plenty (85k to David Mullins) and he did what we thought he was capable of doing, Derek loved him and we all think he now has a big future, he will be sold now.”
Another trainer who tasted success on Saturday was Declan Queally and he too was amongst the winners at Damma House. In fact he went one better and rode the winner himself and in doing so preserved his 100% strike rate in the saddle this season so far.
Queally saddled/rode Dont Matter Now (9/4-5/4) to a comprehensive 6L victory in the concluding 6yr old and upwards geldings maiden.
The winner belied a 911 day absence coming to lead in gutsy style between the last two obstacles and with a spring-heeled leap at the last the now 8yr old progeny of Ask went on to score by 6L from the Barry O’Neill partnered Casey West (ev-5/2-2) who, having made a bold bid for victory after three out, had no more to give in the dying stages.
“Sure look he is a grand fun horse,” said Declan Queally. “He is owned jointly between myself and Daniel Fitzsimmons and we will go for a winners’ race next and as I said have a bit of fun with him.”
The winners’ race looked on paper a hot contest with a good few reputations on the line, however, those reputations were all quickly shattered as the unconsidered Shiroccosmagicgem (4-10) under Gerry Spain went in by 5L much to the delight of the nine bookmakers present.
The 5yr old daughter of Shirocco, a maiden winner at Dromahane for Colin Bowe as a 4yr old but now under the care of Eddie Power, was produced here with impeccable timing by Gerry Spain to tackle 6/4 shot Wallace Olinger and Barry O’Neill on the run to the last. In receipt of 5Lbs it was Shiroccosmagicgem who went on to score by 5L from Wallace Olinger, the other well supported horse in this was the Mick Goff-trained Double Digits (5/2-5/4) who held a 3L advantage when crashing out at the third last, under Mikey Sweeney.
Trainer Eddie Power was on hand to greet his first winner of the current campaign and of her he said “She is a nice type but to be honest she is not fit and I did not expect this today, fair play to Gerry he gave her a grand spin and it will give him a grand old lift as he lost his good horse Some Are Lucky during the week. Thomas Gallagher had her in the UK and she ran in a couple of bumpers for him and John Reddington the owner, they sent her back to Liam Cleary and I am now delighted to have her to train, she will tip away in a mares winners’ race before stepping up to mares open company.”
Last year’s champion point to point horse It’s On The Line (ev-5/44/5) in the colours of owner/trainer Emmet Mullins made a successful reappearance, under Maxine O’Sullivan, to land the eight runner open lightweight race.
O’Sullivan produced the 6yr old progeny of Presenting to lead over the second last and from here Its On The Line and the Derek O’Connor partnered Jeremy Pass (3-5) had a right old ding-dong battle to the line and, despite running about a bit, It’s On The Line prevailed by half a length.
“That is a great start back for him,” said trainer Emmet Mullins. "He is not an easy spin and fair play to Maxine she gave him a fair spin, he will improve a lot and gave a good old blow there now, long term our aim is Cheltenham, so fingers crossed.”
Local trainer David Walsh (Danesfort) saw his Lucky Venture (4-6), under Byron Tully, record a pillar to post victory in the five runner 5yr old and upwards mares maiden.
In front from the outset the 5yr old daughter of Affinisea gave a display of fencing from the front and with a mile or so to race had her rivals in trouble. To her credit she kept up the relentless gallop to go on to eclipse Amyr (5/2-4) and John Barry with 3L the winning margin.
Horse trainer David Walsh indicated that the winner will contest a winners’ race next and has improved over the summer and matured a lot.
Sean Doyle saw his Roe And Co (2-6/4) put up a workmanlike display, under Jamie Scallan, to land the 5yr old geldings maiden by 2.5L.
Unlucky when getting carried out by a loose horse at the second last in Loughrea, the progeny of Malinas, Roe And Co assumed control after the third last and kept up to the task in hand dismissing Oscars Brother (2-4) and John Barry by 2.5L.
“He has matured a lot from 4 to 5,” said successful trainer Sean Doyle. "He is a typical Malinas and will improve another bit with a bit more time, he is a lovely horse and he will be offered at a sale.”
ONE TO FOLLOW…
Redzy Rocco (Ian McCarthy) The son of Shirocco won his maiden at Cragmore last term and in the winners’ contest here he was running a race rich in promise only to get hampered three out by a faller and to his credit he kept at it to finish fourth, beaten around 12L and with a little luck the next time up he could be one to keep onside.
NEXT WEEKEND…
Locally next weekend we have our first meet on the Cork/Waterford circuit with the Duhallow Foxhounds staging their meet at Dromahane with the first off at 12.30pm. In Wexford the Wexford Foxhounds race at Knockmullen House with their first also off at 12.30pm.