Latest news with #IrishEBFAuctionSeries2-Y-0Maiden
Irish Examiner
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Snellen springs surprise in the Meld Stakes
A globe-trotting filly, trained by Gavin Cromwell, Snellen proved a shock winner of the Group 3 BoyleSports Meld Stakes at Leopardstown, pipping odds-on favourite Purview. Ridden by Shane Foley, deputising for the suspended Gary Carroll, the 16-1 shot came from last to first, challenging down the outside to lead at the furlong pole and dug deep to see off Colin Keane's mount by a short-head, with a three lengths back to long-time leader Galen. Tight for room early in the straight, Purview squeezed through and had every chance through the final furlong. He stayed on but was narrowly denied. 'She had a really good run in Ascot and is a solid filly,' said winning rider Foley. 'The race worked out lovely, in a small field. I was able to take my time, which is perfect on her. She picked-up better than I expected off the turn and, when it mattered, she found plenty. 'It was a very nice spare to pick up, but I'm sure Gary will be back on her the next day.' The Joseph O'Brien-trained Queen Of Hawaii built on a promising debut run at the Curragh to take the one-mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden in convincing fashion from front-runner Minerva. Dylan Browne McMonagle delivered his challenge turning for home and, in command before the furlong-pole, the Kingman filly stretched away to triumph by two and a half lengths. 'She had a lovely run in a strong maiden and came forward from it," said O'Brien. 'She appreciated stepping up to a mile and you'd have to be impressed by the way she won. 'If she's to keep to a mile we'll have to wait. But she's in the Silver Flash here next week and the Debutante and they're options if we decide to drop back to seven furlongs.' Fifth in the Albany at Royal Ascot last time, Fairy Oak, ridden by Colin Keane, who completed a double on Noel Meade's newcomer Heiselectric in the 10-furlong maiden, made all to justify 10-11 favouritism in the opening two-year-old maiden, outpointing promising newcomers Yellowstone Lake and Morehampton. 'She was entitled to win her maiden,' stated trainer Michael O'Callaghan. 'Colin felt she had sharpened up from Ascot and that she'd prefer faster ground. She'll step back up in class — she's in the Lowther and has a few other big entries. She's a real two-year-old, very straight-forward and a real trier.' Similar front-running tactics paid off for Chris Hayes on board 33-1 shot Time Bender in the Irish EBF Auction Series 2-Y-0 Maiden, Bill Durkan's charge holding on by almost two lengths from Joltin, despite jinking right close to the line. 'He's been working well with Parkside Lad and the barrier-trial he was going to was cancelled, so we had no option but to come here,' explained Durkan's assistant Gary Gannon. 'He's a nice horse, from a nice family, and open to plenty of improvement. And he's for sale.' And 11/4 favourite Tatum brought up doubles for Noel Meade and Chris Hayes when staying on dourly to foil Louiescall, narrowly, in the Champions Festival Handicap.
Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Romeo Sensini takes giant leap forward with Roscommon win
Unplaced on his debut here last week, Romeo Sensini, a son of Magna Grecia, took a significant step forward to bolt up, for the Slatterys, in the Irish EBF Auction Series 2-Y-0 Maiden at Roscommon, powering clear up the straight to slam Check This Out by 10 lengths. 'He was very green and raw behind horses last week and never got going,' explained trainer Andy Slattery Sr. 'But he's a nice horse and came on a lot for the run. There's a Hong Kong connection with his owners, so he might end up out there.' Placed in his three previous starts, the Joseph O'Brien-trained Omni Man opened his account when easily brushing aside front-running odds-on favourite Mocking in the JTW Distribution Roscommon Race. Having stalked the pace, Declan McDonogh asked the Invincible Spirit colt to tackle the favourite with less than two furlongs to race and, soon in command, he stretched away to triumph by seven and a half lengths. Michael Halford, representing O'Brien, said: 'He's a nice, big, progressive horse. He loved the ground and the step-up in trip and Declan said he quickened well when he asked him. The race set up lovely for him and he should improve with racing.' Having ridden three winners in England last week, Shane Foley hit the target for his boss Jessica Harrington when guiding Thrifty Of Digby to a gutsy, all-the-way win in the Abbey Hotel Roscommon Handicap, holding off Vierson by a length and a quarter. 'It wasn't the plan to make it,' admitted Foley. 'But, after watching the first few races, I decided to let her roll along after the way she jumped – we reverted to Plan B. She enjoyed the ground and being in front and it all worked out well.' Upped in trip, the Paddy Magee-trained Coulstys Way, a seven-race maiden, readily reversed Tipperary form with hot favourite Onemoredance (fourth) in the (0-70) Racing Again Here On June 9th Handicap. The four-year-old filly was an eighth winner of the season for talented 3lb claimer Robert Whearty. And Wesley Joyce was seen to good effect on the Philip Byrne-trained nine-year-old Out On Friday, also adopting successful, front-running tactics in the Garvey's Bar Ballintubber Handicap, the gelding's eighth success.
