Dromahane day to remember for Doyle and Dunleavy

Image © Healy Racing

Ellen Doyle and Brian Dunleavy combined to end 2024 in style with a clean sweep of the four-year-old contests at Dromahane on Monday.

Afancy Getaway initiated a career first treble for Dunleavy, as the debutante justified her position at the top of the market in the opening four-year-old mares maiden. Afancy Getaway made virtually all the running under Dunleavy and fenced superbly to beat her 14 rivals in style, romping home a widening 23 lengths clear of dead-heaters Getaways Charm and Miss Doyenne.

The well-bred mare is out of five-time winner Noras Fancy and is a half-sister to winners Cuteasafox and Sometimes Always.  She was purchased at the Tattersalls 2023 Derby Sale for €37,000.  

“Afancy Getaway was always a smart filly at home and we quietly fancied her to win, she’s got a lovely pedigree and has come out of the race well," James Doyle said. "She will go straight to the sales now.

“We were confident of big runs from all three, they are three nice animals, the two geldings had strong debut runs previously, but you can’t go there expecting three winners, we’re delighted. The horses in the yard are in good form.”

The four-year-old geldings’ maiden was divided with 14 runners going to post in the first division. The well-bred Modern Man finished a promising third in Umma House behind Colin Bowe’s Skylight Hussle and Johnny Fogarty’s Reckless Spending, the latter went on to be sold for £200,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham November Sale.

Dunleavy produced Modern Man to lead approaching the second last fence and he duly obliged in game fashion to beat Western Explorer by three lengths.

 “The Milan gelding was kindly sent to us by Catherine and David Magnier from Grange Stud," Doyle added.

Starzand completed the Doyle/Dunleavy three-timer when storming home 25 lengths to the good of Wildhorserider in another competitive 13-runner affair. 

The Baltimore inmate was only beaten a length on debut by subsequent impressive maiden hurdle winner Goraibhmaithagat at Knockanard last February. The imposing son of Harzand was acquired at last year’s Tattersalls Derby Sale for €21,000.

“The feed pots are clean and all three came out of their races well, there has been plenty of interest in them, but more than likely they will head to the Cheltenham January Sale at the end of the month, if not sold in the meantime.

“Brian Dunleavy rides out for us every morning, seven days a week and he gave them all great rides, it was nice to see him ride his first treble”.

The Baltimore team has six winners on the board for this season so far, equaling their total number of winners last season.  There are approximately 45 riding out at the Coolgarrow Stables with a few more nice youngsters yet to be unleashed.