Report | Ballyvodock 02nd February 2020

Sam Curling enjoyed a double on the day and his first success came in the O’Connell Group five-year-old and upwards mares’ maiden with Western Fiona, who justified her position at the top of the market when denying Aizy Does It by one and three quarter lengths under Pa King.

“She’s a nice mare that has come forwards since Ballindenisk,” said winning rider King.

Pa King partnered both of Curling’s winners on the card and the pair then combined to capture the Jerry McCarthy Carrigtwohill Shopping & Business Centre winner-of-two with Templebredin.

The winning son of Stowaway made his way to the front before the last and he got on top to beat the staying on Entre Deux by three and a half lengths.

“He’s a tough horse that should make into a lovely staying chaser,” said winning rider King of Templebredin, owned by Jeremiah O’Brien.

Handler Jonathan Fogarty sent out his initial winner for visiting British owner Allan Stennett when Stellar Magic posted a taking debut success in the Water Rock Golf Course five-year-old geldings’ maiden.

Stellar Magic, one of nine newcomers in the race and engaged in a battle for supremacy from two out with runner-up Pay The Party and he mastered Colin Bowe’s charge at the last en-route to scoring by a half-length under Barry Stone.

“He battled well and we’ll see what we do with him now,” said Fogarty.

Seventeen-year-old Brian Dunleavy rode his first winner aboard the Alan Ahern-trained Here Comes Johny in the Brown Island Stables five-year-old and upwards confined hunt maiden for novice riders. 

Here Comes Johny vindicated the promise of his seventh-placed effort behind Only The Bold at Tyrella by easing his way through to lead at the penultimate fence to beat Rwegoinhigh by two and a half lengths.

"He ran ok at Tyrella last weekend and we thought that he would win today. I bought him as a foal and he will probably be sold now,” said handler Ahern.

Tim Townend’s Wouldubewell supplemented her success at Boulta in early December by
coming home as she pleased in the Midleton Park Hotel & Jack Spratts Bar Carrigtwohill mares’ winner-of-two.

Wouldubewell then powered clear before the penultimate fence to dismiss the only other finisher Sofias Castle by 20 lengths in the hands of Eoin O’Brien.

Townend said of his daughter Caroline's Wouldubewell: "She's a decent mare that jumps well and Eoin [O'Brien] thinks she's good enough for the track, although my daughter Jodie would like to ride her in a mares' bumper. She will probably go for the Gain Mares' Final and then maybe the mares' point-to-point bumper at Cork. "

Twenty four-year-old David Murphy from Fermoy is another that will treasure fond memories of the meeting as he sent out his initial winner as a handler courtesy of Etoile Du Matin in the Norman Walsh & Guilders Bar six-year-old and upwards geldings’ maiden.

The eventual winner, on his first start for Murphy having finished fourth on his two forays last season, picked up the running with Ray Barron after three out and he held a slender advantage over Won’t Talk when John Halley’s charge fell at the last. Etoile Du Matin was then left clear to beat Presenting Point by 20 lengths.

Murphy's father Jeff that owns Etoile Du Matin said: "Ray [Barron], who rode him on his two starts last season, recommended us to buy him at Doncaster last May. Ray said that he would make into a nice type and he's a horse that likes a bit of goodish ground. "