Report | Bartlemy 12th May 2019

The opening Tattersalls Ireland & Coolmore Stud four-year-old mares’ maiden saw Fantasia Roque step up from her excellent third-placed debut effort at Inch over Easter by initiating the opening leg of a two-timer for Donnchadh Doyle and Rob James.

The mare gave an exhibition of fencing in front and the Monbeg Syndicate-owned French-bred battled well to beat Clondaw Caitlin by a half-length in what was the closest finish of the afternoon.

"This is a smart filly that came on from her run at Inch. She will now go to a sale now," said the Monbeg handler.

On an afternoon that saw Wexford-trained horses winning four out of the seven races, Mick Goff's newcomer Mustang Alpha unleashed a potent turn of foot from the final fence to win in a common canter in the Goffs UK Spring Sale four-year-old geldings’ maiden. 

The four-year-old was always positioned close to the pace and he moved past long-time Three Nations with Shane Fitzgerald before the last.

The winning son of Stowaway, duly came home some six lengths clear of long-time leader Straw Fan Jack.

"He's a very speedy, when he got daylight here, he really flew. He will now go to a sale,” said Goff of his wife Caitriona's charge.

The second division of the of the Goffs UK Spring Sale four-year-old geldings’ maiden saw the appropriately-named Lets Go Champ brought up the concluding leg of a two-timer for Donnchadh Doyle and Rob James by posting a taking debut success in this truly-run contest.

The winning son of Jeremy, a three-parts brother to Our Conor that was bought for €90,000 at last year's Derby sale, picked up the running three-out.

The patiently-ridden Full Back duly held every chance on the flat, but to his credit Lets Go Champ valiantly rose his effort and he duly won by one and a half lengths.

"He has grown a lot since we bought him at the Derby sale last year and we always knew that he was smart from early doors. He was a bit green here and he will now go to some of the sales," said the handler of the Monbeg Syndicate-owned winner.

Liz Lalor moved onto the four-winner mark for the season, one adrift of current ladies championship leader Susie Doyle, by combining with her partner Tom Keating to capture this nine-runner McCarthy Insurance five-year-old geldings’ maiden contest with Who's In The Box.

A creditable fifth on his previous start behind Ask A Honey Bee at Ballynoe, the son of Witness Box picked up the running before three-out and he duly asserted from the last to contain Into The Woods by three lengths.

"He has run well a few times, but it's only now that he's getting stronger. He's a nice staying horse and he will now go to the Doncaster sales later this month," said owner/handler Keating.

The Anthony & Associates Agri Consultants five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden saw the Kieran Roche-trained Racks Cross, having finished in the frame on all three previous career starts this year, attained her due reward by easily justifying favouritism in the hands of James Walsh.

Jumping soundly disputing the lead with Kates Lane until edging into a narrow advantage from four-out.
The winning daughter of Jeremy stormed clear on the approach to two-out and she ultimately beat Cobra Angel by an increasing eight lengths.

"She really deserved to win and she will probably now go to the Doncaster sales," said handler of the successful mare, owned by Carnew-based publican Mick Kenny.

The Michael Winters-trained Winter Getaway returned to the form that saw her sluice home on her penultimate foray in a Liscarroll maiden in late March by arriving from off the pace under a confident Chris O'Donovan to beat Shuil Luas in the Liam Walsh & Associates Mares winner of one. The six-year-old came through from mid-division to go second on the run to the final fence.

Whilst then having to be posed a few questions, Winter Getaway gamely forged to the front inside the final 100 yards to oblige by two lengths.

"Chris gave her a confident ride as he knew that she was a mare with a fair bit of toe. I suppose that she will be sold now,” said the winning handler of the bay who is owned and bred by Edmond Cogan.

The concluding Glenview Stud & Dennis Barry, Bartlemy confined maiden saw the James Sheehan's Getting Closer, who failed to complete the course on his three previous starts, overcame a near six-month lay-off by making his way to the front on the incline from the last to beat long-time leader She'll Be Back in the hands of Johnny Barry.

Getting Closer, the only gelding in the six-runner field, made smooth progress from two-out and the victorious five-year-old took the measure of She'll Be Back some 100 yards out to score by a length.

"I gave him a break after he ran at Turtulla in November and he could run in the winners’ race at Ballindenisk next Sunday, "said owner/trainer Sheehan of the Winged Love-sired gelding.