Report | Moig South 24th Mar 18

Stonehall (H) at Moig South on Saturday 24th March.

The Stonehall harriers were rewarded with an afternoon of sunshine on Saturday to finally stage their Moig South fixture at the third attempt. A decent crowd gathered to witness a number of good performances on the day, none more so than winning most point-to-point rider Derek O'Connor, who recorded a three timer at the new Co. Limerick venue.

Legends Gold ensured O'Connor's' day got off to the best possible start when putting up a very taking performance to land the Brian Collins Bookmakers Askeaton four-year-old mares’ maiden for an absent Warren Ewing. The testing ground conditions attributed to the slow pace of the race, where the winner could be called just that from the penultimate obstacle. Running in the colours of her handler, Legends Gold looked a class apart from her rivals here and finished six-lengths clear of Shocona's Joy, under a hands and heels ride from O'Connor. The daughter of Gold Well was bought by Sarah Sproule at the 2017 Tattersalls Ireland August Sale for €2,500. Sproule, representing Ewing, commented; “This is a mare we’ve always liked, she did it very well today and we’re delighted. She’ll most be likely go the sales now.”

It was a local success in the Hallinans Bar, Askeaton five-year-old geldings’ maiden, where Dancingatdunraven, jointly owned by Bryan Murphy, proprietor of the Dunraven Arms Hotel in nearby Adare and handler Sam Curling, won at his leisure. Dancingatdunraven was given a textbook O'Connor ride as he was waited with throughout, before being produced through the field rounding the final bend and eventually hitting the front over the second-last. The triumphant son of Mahler sealed victory with a fine jump at the last and was eased on the run to the line to score by 20-lengths to Arizona Ranger. Sourced by Murphy at the 2016 edition of the Tattersalls August Sale for €5,800, Curling said of his charge; “This is a nice staying horse that jumps very well.  Derek was very good on him today and he’ll most likely go to one of the sales now.”

Pat Doyle’s Sydney Paget recorded his fifth consecutive success of the year in the Timmy Hanley Memorial open lightweight to bring up the O’Connor treble. The current leading pointer took up the running after the second obstacle and clearly enjoyed the testing conditions, as he bounded clear to record his 12th points success by three-lengths to Western Man, in the colours of US-based Kilmacthomas native Roddy O’Byrne. “The aim is still very much to make him leading pointer. Today was probably one of his best performances since he made his debut for us. He’s just a superstar to have in the yard really and will go for another open in the coming weeks.,” said Doyle of his stable stalwart.

John Barry, who has recorded fifteen winners to date this season, partnered a double on the day, the first of which came when Pat Doyle's newcomer Commander Of Fleet finished alone in the Tattersalls Ireland four-year-old geldings' maiden. Commander Of Fleet, sporting the Gigginstown House Stud silks, was the first winner between the flags in Ireland for the late Fame and Glory, a €47,000 graduate of last year’s Goffs Land Rover sale where he was purchased by Mags O'Toole from Co.Wexford producers Mount Eaton Stud. Incidentally, the bumper at Thurles on the same afternoon was won by the Noel Meade's Young Ted, also sired by Fame and Glory. “That was great, as it was his first time being away from home today. He looks a lovely horse with a nice future ahead of him on the track,” said Doyle of Commander Of Fleet.

John Barry completed his two-timer in the Design & Drafting Solutions six-year-old geldings’ maiden, when steering Perpignan to victory for Paddy Twomey. This is Twomey's first pointing success in his who is better known for his exploits consigning young flat horses through his Athassel House Stud in Golden, Co. Tipperary. The son of Robin Des Champs was asked to quicken approaching the final fence and sprinted clear of the field to lead home the experienced Tippinawaynow by five-lengths on the line. “This is a nice horse that we just haven’t had a clear run with, so it’s nice to win with him. Hopefully a career on the track will be his next port of call now,” reported Twomey of his own Perpignan.

Beeverstown Beauty, followed up her very promising debut second at Killeagh in January with a convincing win in the P J Dore Pumps & Irrigation Systems five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden. The daughter of Yeats never looked to be in danger once taking the lead on the final circuit and she recorded a 20-length win over debutant Plan At The Minute, with Jemma's Gift posting a career best third a further length-and-a-half back. Liam Quinlan was partnering his first winner for Cahill on his second ride for him, having ridden the mare on her debut. Cahill indicated that plans are fluid for Beeverstown Beauty, whose owner/breeder Noel Guiry from Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary was on hand to welcome home the winner. Guiry has enjoyed plenty of success with the family, and the winner is a half-sister to four time track scorer Thegreatjohnbrowne, who raced mostly in the JP McManus silks.