17 November 2022 - Flipbook - Page 79
HORSEWEEK
FARMWEEK
OCTOBER 06 2022
79
Chris crowned the ‘King’ of
Down Royal with four-timer
By Shaun O’Dea
T
HE opening maiden
sprint at the Molson
Coors
Race
Day
at
Down
Royal
Racecourse
on
Monday, September 26 saw
the well supported ‘Gobi Star’
(5s to 9/4), trained by Eddie
Lynam with Chris Hayes
aboard, run down the runner
up ‘Aurora Nova’, which was
always prominent prior to
the surge of the winner in
the final furlong to open her
account in snug fashion.
Hayes said: “I was always
confident and nursing him.
He was unfortunate, a bob of
the head the last day. It was
something similar today and
probably the slower ground
again even helped. He doesn’t
like to be in front too long - the
draw suited and he’s learning
on the job. He has been rocksolid and consistent all year he deserved that. I think he’ll
improve and will be capable
of handicaps in future.”
Hayes quickly doubled up in
the second race on the Jack
Davison trained ‘All In The
Hips’ (6s to 100/30), when
adopting similar tactics challenging at the elbow and
readily stretching clear in
the final furlong, overhauling
the leader and favourite
‘Wakai Umi’ - while the
winner reversed form, with
the second having finished
fourth when they met last
time.
Hayes said: “The lads were
very confident of a big run
in Naas, but I thought I was
drawn on the wrong side the
last day. Jack (Davison) said
to me this morning that she
OPENER: ‘Gobi Star’, outside purple, with Chris Hayes aboard,
landed the opener at Down Royal on a bumper day for the
jockey. (FW40-523SO)
had come on a bit. I was fairly
confident and I thought the
only thing that might beat me
would be maybe the ground.
To be fair, she has mentally
sharpened up. Once she got
over the road, she lugged a
little bit left but, once I gave
her a smack, she quickened
up well. I’m hopeful she will
transfer that on to the allweather (in Dundalk), as I
don’t know what is left for her
on the grass.”
Hayes completed the hat trick
when steering the locally
owned ‘Encosta’ to success
in the most valuable race
on the day, the EBF Maiden.
Trained by Noel Meade, who
fielded a trio in the contest
including the fourth placed
‘Shangrilama’, the winner
looks a filly with talent and
easily went clear when asked
to win. The third placed ‘La
Tulipe Noire’ could be one to
note in a handicap.
Noel Meade said: “She’s a
nice filly and we’ve always
thought a lot of her and she
didn’t cost a lot of money,
so she gets into those races.
She’ll go to the final now in
Naas and I think we will leave
INSIDE TRACK: The John McConnell trained ‘Kartayaz’, inside
with Kyanna Van-Buuren in the saddle, claimed the second
division of the Pravha Handicap at Down Royal. (FW40-525SO)
T
ATTERSALLS Ireland are delighted to
announce the appointment of former
Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand
National winning jockey, Robbie Power to
the Bloodstock Team effective from Monday,
October 3. Robbie will be an integral part of
the Bloodstock and Inspection team and will
assist Tattersalls Ireland with inspections,
promotions, pre-sale and sales day matters.
From Summerhill, Co. Meath, Robbie is a
hugely well-known figure in the racing and
breeding industry, he had an illustrious
career on the racetrack before retiring
from the saddle earlier this year. Among his
highlights are winners such as ‘Silver Birch’
in the 2007 Grand National, in what was only
his second ride in the world’s most famous
race, and ‘Sizing John’, who triumphed in the
Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2017.
Robbie steered 31 Grade 1 winners to victory
over his time as a jockey, the first being
‘Carrigeen Victor’ for Jessica Harrington,
while other top-level success was aboard
Derby Sale graduate ‘Fiddlerontheroof’ in the
Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle for Colin Tizzard. His
association with leading trainers Harrington
and Tizzard saw him ride 15 and 11 Grade
her for the winter, she’s a big
filly.”
Winner number four for
Hayes came courtesy of
the very well supported
‘Gegenpressing’ (14s to 6/1),
trained by Eddie and Patrick
Harty, who were completing
an across the card double,
following
scoring
at
Roscommon. In a blanket
finish to the 47-70 Handicap,
the winner challenged last on
the very wide outside to win,
having been ninth at the road
crossing prior to the straight.
Hayes advised: “He can be
a bit of a monkey. The pace
was strong and I thought they
would come back and I had
one go passing the road. He’s
a character.”
The Pravha Handicap was
divided and the Andrew
McNamara trained ‘Red Trail’,
partnered by apprentice Jack
Kearney, gave a very game
effort to win the first division.
The winner readily travelled
well downhill to lead into the
straight, then resist the late
challenge of ‘Firstman’, which
ran on from the rear.
Kearney said: “I thought she
would have a good chance. I
DELIGHTED:
Right, A
delighted Kyanna
Van-Buuren
partnered her
second winner
for her boss
John McConnell,
in the second
division of the
Pravha Handicap
at Down Royal.
(FW40-526SO)
knew the step up in trip
would suit her. I was hoping
for a good run here today.
She loved the ground and
gave me a lovely spin. She
travelled through the race
lovely and she was much
more straightforward.”
The second division went to
the John McConnell trained
‘Kartayaz’ with apprentice
Kyanna Van-Buuren, who
works for the trainer in the
saddle and was registering
her second success. The
winner was always handy,
leading prior to the straight
and resisted the effort of the
runner up, which appeared to
give the jockey no assistance
in the closing stages, hanging
continually right.
Van-Buuren said: “I thought
I had no chance when the
runner up joined me, but I
think it helped my horse to go
forward and it spurred him
on and took me to the line. It’s
a big thrill and I’m delighted,
as I’ve been hitting the crossbar lately.”
The Kevin Coleman trained
‘Shoebox King’, partnered by
Joe Doyle, landed the Coors
Sprint in a four-way photo
finish.
The runner up ‘Harmony
Rose’ was unlucky, having
to thread her way between
horses in the closing stages,
while third ‘Neo Soul’ raced
wide downhill until the elbow,
briefly joining the leader, but
was no match for the resolute
victor.
Coleman said: “He’s in the
sales next month and will
win races. I opted for the
handicap rather than the
maiden, as I thought he was
on a good mark. He is very
FEATURE: ‘Encosta’ (Chris Hayes), pictured in second and
trained by Noel Meade, claimed the Down Royal feature,
supplying a locally owned victory. (FW40-522SO)
PHOTO FINISH: ‘Red Trail’ (Jack Kearney), nearest, beat
‘Firstman’ in a photo in a blanket finish to the first division of
the Pravha Handicap at Down Royal. (FW40-524SO)
laid back and a great attitude
and enjoys his racing - I really
fancied him today, as he was
well in.”
Top trainer, Joseph O’Brien
struck in the finale with
a very progressive colt in
‘Como Park’ and Declan
McDonagh aboard. The top
rider was content to sit middivision prior to improving
downhill and hitting the
front entering the straight,
as the locally trained ‘Regally
Blonde’ stayed on late to take
second.
McDonagh said: “He stays
well. We went a good pace and
I was happy to sit back out of
the fight early. He finished
off the race well. I think he
appreciated getting his toe
in today, a little bit of ease in
the ground helped him. He’s
a horse on the up and could
be improving. He’s a fine, big,
physical horse and he could
be going the right way.”
FINALE: The Joseph O’Brien trained ‘Como Park’ ( Declan
McDonagh) looked a class above rivals when landing the finale
at Down Royal. (FW40-521SO)
Robbie Power to join Tattersalls Ireland as Bloodstock Representative and Inspector
NEW ROLE: Robbie Power on board ‘Magic
Daze’, as he announced his retirement from
the saddle. (FW40-540NN)
1 winners for the stables respectively and
included the 2019 Grade 1 Betfair Chase
winner ‘Lostintranslation’, another Derby Sale
and November NH Sale graduate.
Commenting on the appointment, Tattersalls
Ireland CEO Simon Kerins, said: “We are
thrilled to welcome Robbie to the team at
Tattersalls Ireland and his appointment comes
at an opportune time, as our Breeze-Up and
Store Sales inspections commence in the New
Year. Robbie’s experience, horsemanship and
passion for racing perfectly complements the
current team and further strengthens our Irish
inspection team of John O’Kelly, Jamie Codd,
Timmy Hillman, Chris Farrell, Richard Pugh
and Barry O’Neill. To have someone of this
calibre join our team, who has ridden multiple
Grade 1 winners including many Tattersalls
Ireland graduates, is invaluable and we look
forward for what is to come.”
Robbie Power commented on his appointment
with Tattersalls Ireland: “It’s a huge pleasure
to be joining Tattersalls Ireland and I am really
looking forward to this next chapter in my
career. To have ridden in a generation with
the best jockeys ever to grace the racecourse
and to ride for Jessica Harrington for basically
my whole career, receiving her mentorship
and guidance through the highs and lows, I
was incredibly lucky. When one door closes,
another one opens, and I take on this new role
with great enthusiasm.
“I have been coming to the sales at Tattersalls
Ireland since a young age and it feels like I have
come full circle to now be working alongside
the team full-time. A key part of my role will be
inspecting some of the best stock in Ireland,
both Flat and National Hunt, and following
them as they begin their careers on the
racetracks, which is hugely exciting.”
GRANSHA EQUESTRIAN CENTRE
KERRS ROAD BANGOR BT19 7QD
Adrienne Stuart • Tel 07855462614
OCTOBER EVENTS AT GRANSHA EQUESTRIAN CENTRE
The Gallery Café is now Open!!
Nash’s Friday Night Jumping – 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th 6.30 Start.
X-Poles up to 90cm.
Keeway Equestrian Surfaces
Horse & Pony Working Hunter Sunday 9th
Dressage Saturday 15th
Week 1 of the New Equine Awards League
Derby Sunday 16th
Equine Art Workshop Saturday 22nd
NOVEMBER
FRIDAY 4TH Halloween Pony Fun And Games for Children
and Adults
Find details of all Events on the new web site www.granshaequestriancentre.com
email – granshariding@yahoo.com
fb – Gransha Equestrian Centre
