Report | Kinsale 2nd June 2019

Rob James initiated the opening leg of a two-timer by combining with handler Cormac Doyle to win the The Celtic Ross Hotel four-year-old mares’ maiden with Presenting Ana, who shaped with clear promise by dead-heating for fourth spot in the Loughanmore race won by Movin'on Up two weeks earlier.

The mare always travelled with purpose and she moved through to overtake long-time leader Miss Mondito after the second last.
The winning daughter of Presenting then stayed on stoutly to defeat the fast-finishing Rosa Gloriosa by three parts of a length in a race that saw a little under two lengths cover the first four home.

"She's a nice sort and she will probably now go to my brother Sean to run on the track for the summer," said Doyle of the Monbeg Farm Racing Partnership-owned winner.

The Higgins & Co Catering Solutions six-year-old geldings’ maiden attracted just two runners and Rob James brought up his two-timer by returning to the coveted number one slot aboard the Jim Dreaper-trained Saxophonic.

A creditable third on his previous start at Necarne having previously held every chance when falling at the final fence at Kirkistown in March, the gelding made all the running and he was already well in command when jumping out to his right two-out. 

At the post, Saxophonic had a comprehensive eight lengths to spare over the previous weekend's Tralee runner-up Orpen Wells.

"He's a horse that shaped well in Kirkistown and he's finished for the year now. He will probably come back pointing in the autumn," said Dreaper's son Tom of the Knockalough Syndicate-owned Saxophonic.

The O’Leary Insurance Group four-year-old geldings’ maiden saw Galway Kid atone for falling at the eighth fence on his debut at Loughanmore on May 18th by destroying the opposition in the hands of Shane Fitzgerald.

The son of Sholokhov made virtually all the running, jumping soundly in the process and he stormed clear from two-out to beat Ballinagore by an unchallenged 15 lengths in the colours of Derek Tobin.

"He's a horse that's very quick over his fences and we've always thought a lot of him. He's a horse with plenty of toe that should be up to winning a bumper," said handler Mick Goff of the gelding who is a close relation to Kerry National runner-up Putsometnby whom he bought as a three-year-old.

Maxine O'Sullivan, who ultimately won the ladies championship at Ballingarry on Monday, combined with her father Eugene O'Sullivan to take the Glasslyn Veterinary Winner Of Two with recent Tramore hunters chase runner-up Super Citizen.

The winning five-year-old was content to track long-time leader Alloverafiver, who was third in the mares' winners race here the previous evening, virtually throughout until hitting the front after two-out.

Super Citizen, owned and bred by Alurie O'Sullivan, then forged clear coming to the last to account for Alloverafiver by a widening nine lengths.

Handler O'Sullivan reported of Super Citizen: "He's a smashing horse that's improving the whole time and if we come back pointing with him next season, he should develop into a lovely winners horse."

The Kiely brothers from Cappagh in Co Waterford, handler Paul and rider Richie, won the final two races and they got off the mark with Chenery in the 11-runner Johnson & Perrott Motor Group older mares’ maiden.

Owned by another Kiely sibling in Tom, Chenery vindicated the promise she displayed when coming third at Monksgrange in late April by moving through to seize control two-out.
It was all relatively plain sailing thereafter as the victorious daughter of Court Cave accounted for Luscious Lilly by six lengths.

Handler Kiely, himself a former amateur rider, said: "My brother Tom bought her after she ran in the autumn. The plan was to win a point with her and she may now go to the track. "

Thedancingfarrier completed a memorable afternoon for the Kiely brothers by making a triumphant career debut in the The Good Fish Company older geldings’ maiden.

The winning seven-year-old, owned and bred by Tom Kiely who is actually a farrier, made his way to the front before the eighth fence.

The successful son of Dansant was closely pressed by Benbulben Blue and Vermout Fougeray at the second last.

The patiently-ridden runner-up Benbulben Blue actually touched down in front over the last, but Thedancingfarrier stormed back to the fore quite literally on the line to oblige by a short head in what was the closest finish of the day.

Tom Kiely said: "Thedancingfarrier is a horse that has just taken a bit of time. He got a few small setbacks and we might run him on the track now."