Image © Healy Racing
County Antrim-based handler Paul McAleese made the journey from his Moneycannon Stables base near Ballymoney worthwhile on Sunday as Eazy Breezy produced a game performance to land the five-year-old geldings’ maiden at Tattersalls.
The homebred son of Jet Away built on the promise of his Farmacaffley debut in late February to land a competitive 14-runner contest, recording the fastest time of the day, some eight seconds quicker than the average.
Confidently ridden by Stephen Connor, who was having his first ride for the yard, the five-year-old was always to the fore, travelling strongly before moving up to dispute the lead from three out. Briefly headed at the last, he showed a likeable battling attitude to rally on the run-in, staying on gamely to regain the advantage and score by a length, with the front pair pulling ten lengths clear of the third.
McAleese admitted that he had gone to Tattersalls with confidence, expecting improvement from the gelding’s debut effort.
“We really fancied him. We were a bit worried about the ground, but we knew he’d come on a good bit from the first day,” he said.
On that initial outing at Farmacaffley in February, Eazy Breezy had been given a nice introduction, staying on late to finish third behind Lauvergnat, and the benefit of that experience was evident here.
“He was in great form at home. I’d done a couple of good bits of work with him on the beach beforehand, so we knew he’d go close.”
Connor, who is enjoying his best season in the saddle, was praised for executing the plan.
“Stephen rode to instructions and gave him a great ride.”
Bred by co-owner John Mooney, a concrete shutterer based in Swatragh, County Derry, Eazy Breezy is the final produce out of the Witness Box mare Nosey Box, with McAleese having bought into the gelding as a yearling. He also trained the dam to win a Loughanmore maiden in 2012, before she went on to perform well under Rules for Noel Kelly.
“John and myself go back a long time. I trained the dam for him and she won a point-to-point and then went on to run well on the track.”
The family has been a productive one for the yard, with half-brother River Box among previous winners for McAleese, while another half-brother, Speedy Box, has placed form. A full-brother, Castle Chipaway, was sadly lost after a schooling accident, while full-sister Tillaway is now in training with Tom George in Britain.
Operating with a small team of just five horses, McAleese combines training with his work as a farrier. He saddled his first runners in 2007 and rode with success as an amateur, partnering around a dozen winners.
Despite the small numbers, his horses have been running consistently well this season, with five runners yielding a winner, a second and a third.
The yard remains very much a family operation, with his father Billy, a long-time support, still helping out daily alongside his wife Laura and their three sons, Ross, Sam and James. His eldest, Ross, who recently turned 17, has already gained valuable experience riding and schooling at home, as well as spending time with Gordon Elliott, and is likely to take out his amateur licence in the near future.
At home, McAleese has a small gallop, lunge pen and walker, and makes full use of the local facilities, regularly working his horses on the beaches at White Rocks and Benone, while also travelling to Moira Schooling Gallops.
“We use the beach a couple of times a week. There’s no better place if you get it right,” he said.
Eazy Breezy has come out of his Tattersalls success in good order, although connections resisted the temptation to send him to the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale later in the week, with the gelding now set to be offered at a later date. Given the manner of this performance, he is sure to attract plenty of interest wherever he goes.
“He’s 100%, he’s grand. We were going to go to Cheltenham, but it was just a bit soon. It wouldn’t be fair on him having to be on the boat straight away.
“I’ll probably just take my time with him now and maybe look at entering him for Doncaster sales next month.”
With the season entering its closing weeks, McAleese is hopeful of adding to his tally, with Morale Boost, a recent second at Loughanmore, set to run again, potentially at Ballysteen. A five-year-old by Conduit, Everyones Bob, could also make his debut before the campaign concludes, while a number of younger horses are already being prepared with the autumn in mind.
