Coen and Slattery families enjoy successful week
Point-to-point producer John Nallen saddled a rare bumper winner as Minella Mate confirmed the promise of three previous runs to get off the mark in the Kilbeggan INH Flat Race at Kilbeggan on Monday week last.
Nallen was able to call on the services of dual Grade 1-winning qualified rider, John Gleeson and the eighteen-year-old, who has just finished his Leaving Cert displayed his composure, judgement and strength as his Shantou partner justified odds-on favouritism. The five-year-old raced in second before taking it up two furlongs out and though headed entering the final furlong, showed an excellent attitude to get his head back in front and win by three-quarters of a length.
Ray Hackett has an unbroken run of winners over jumps in Ireland since the 2012-2013 season despite having a small team of horses, but the Toomevara man has enjoyed a particularly fruitful term to date and Stormy Master put a recent run of poor form behind him to gallop to a two-and-a-quarter-length triumph in the 3m1f Country Fest August 13 Opportunity Handicap Chase at Wexford on Tuesday. It was a third success of the campaign for Hackett from just ten runners, moving him to within two of his previous best tally. Jack Gilligan did the steering, taking it up after the third last and using his partner’s stamina to prevail.
Hackett has been an important mentor to Conor Clarke and the Toomevara apprentice brought the curtain down on a successful two-day meeting at Bettyville Park when the Tony Mullins-trained Walmix was a surprise victor of the Enniscorthy Castle INH Flat Race. The five-year-old had finished fourth on debut at the beginning of the month and showed the benefit of that but was also given a peach by Clarke, who brought Walmix smoothly through the field before showing good strength to get his willing partner in front, reeling in Sadies Diamond about 150 yards out to win by three-quarters of a length.
Ben Coen got on the scoresheet for the week when linking up with Tom Mullins, who sent out Sea Singer for a courageous triumph in the competitive looking Irish EBF Auction Series Race for two-year-olds at Leopardstown on Thursday. Coen, wearing the colours of the trainer’s wife Helen, made use of a sprightly break to hold a prominent position throughout the seven-furlong affair and found a willing ally when asking for maximum effort a furlong and a half out, taking it up and just holding the surging Port Louis by a nose.
Joe Murphy is operating a career high nineteen per cent strike rate at present and the Fethard handler made it winner number eight for the season in Ireland with Overheer in the Leopardstown Racing With Pride Handicap on Thursday. Gary Carroll had the seven-year-old close to the pace throughout and he kept on well to post a fourth career victory.
Paddy Twomey combined with his number one jockey Billy Lee as Gunzburg justified favouritism when following up a promising debut run with an unexpended three-quarter length victory in the ELECC Maiden at Down Royal on Friday. Stepping back to five furlongs suited and a step up to stakes class seems inevitable.
Andrew Slattery delivered on the double at the northern venue, timing his run to perfection on Knockbordan trainer Nick Stokes’ stable star Curraheen Princess to claim the spoils by a cheeky neck in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies’ Handicap before following up for his father Andy on Sunset Nova in the concluding Laura Nicholas Memorial Handicap.
Ben Coen also recorded a double the same evening down at Limerick, first hitting the target on Furnace Creek in the Follow Limerick On Instagram Rated Race for trainer Joe Murray and owner/breeder Danny Coogan and then claiming the lucky last, the Twilight Package At Limerick Races Handicap as the Gordon Elliott-conditioned Tronador displayed oodles of stamina to grind out the verdict by two and a half lengths.
Kyle McHugh repaid the faith of Cloughjordan trainer Denis Hogan, who legged the seventeen-year-old up on favourite Big Baby Bull in the Family Fun Day Apprentice Claiming Race at Limerick on Friday and belied his inexperience with a fantastic ride to record his first winner under Rules, having come through the pony racing ranks. McHugh stayed calm when a poor break required the binning of Plan A – to make the running – and he delivered his charge gradually for a half-length triumph.
Aidan O’Brien had another big week at Royal Ascot but the master of Ballydoyle was also on domestic duty and he saddled Farnborough to claim the Ryan’s Cleaning Event Specialists Maiden at Limerick on Friday by a half-length, with stable stalwart Seamie Heffernan doing the steering.
Astute Bansha conditioner David Marnane legged up Luke McAteer on Amemri to prevail in a power-packed finish to the Ballyduane Stud Handicap, and when three flashed past the lollipop, it was McAteer and Amemri that took the spoils by a head from Master Garvey and another head to Miss Yvonne.
It was a fantastic day for the Coen/Slattery family at Limerick on Saturday, with brothers Ben & Jake Coen winning, as well as first cousin Andrew Slattery, while Andy Slattery, father to Andrew and uncle to the Coens registered a double. Ben Coen scored first for boss Johnny Murtagh on Artemis Jones in the Party Time Maiden. Next up was Jake, for Conor O’Dwyer on Lady Arwen in the Ryans Cleaning Event Specialists Handicap.
The Slattery’s combined to claim the Limerick Racecourse Fillies’ Handicap by a nose with 9/4 favourite Independent Expert and Slattery Snr completed his double when Khafaaq maintained his good form to bag the spoils in the Follow Limerick On Twitter Handicap, Cian Horgan doing the steering.
Rachael Blackmore honoured with MBE
Tipperary Jockey Rachael Blackmore has been awarded an Honorary MBE by England’s King Charles for her service to sport.
Upcoming Meetings
Naas – Wednesday, June 28 (First Race 5.30pm)
Curragh – Friday, June 30 (First Race 5pm)
Curragh – Saturday, July 1 (First Race 1.40pm)
Curragh – Sunday, July 2 (First Race 1.50pm)