Tipperary Racing Scene

Hats off to Ballacolla trainer Mark Quigley whose Shine On Sam landed a touch in the bumper at Wexford in midweek.

Backed into 8-1 from fancy odds in the region of 25-1 or bigger, the newcomer fought tooth and nail to down the 4-7 favourite Hartford by a short head.

This was the third time for Killenaule jockey Adam Ryan to ride a bumper winner for Quigley in the past year.

Shine On Sam is owned by her breeder Evelyn Casserly.

FULL CREDIT

Such is the competition, winning just one race in Ireland can be hard enough. Winning four in a row with an exposed, lowly-rated handicapper is another thing entirely, so full credit to trainer Paul Flynn whose Caffu Zafeen extended his sequence at Dundalk last

week. Orla Tynan positioned her mount close to the pace and they were always holding the pursuers in the straight. The 100-30 favourite went in by over a length. Caffu Zafeen, owned by Declan Sheridan, won his first race for the Colehill stable in September off a rating of 49. Four wins later he has been reassessed at 82. Fair play to everyone involved.

NICE WINNER

Closefield Beau gave trainer Danny McLoughlin a nice winner in the seven-furlong nursery at Dundalk on Wednesday last.

Ridden by Nathan Crosse, the 11-10 favourite made virtually of the running. He was challenged on either side inside the final furlong but stayed on gamely, half a length up at the line.

The Curragh trainer received the news a day later that he is a nominee - and deservedly so - for the Emerging Talent Award at the HRI Awards in Dublin next month.

RED-HOT FORM

Pat Flynn’s red-hot form at Dundalk continued last week as Carrigans Grove just about took the seven-furlong handicap.

Robyn Donaghue-Leahy has been on board each of the Carrick-on-Suir trainer’s five winners on the all-weather surface over the past two weeks.

The latest success was a close-run thing as Carrigans Grove (11-2) snuck in by a head under the Piltown jockey.

WINNERS IN BOTH CODES

Emmet Mullins struck with winners under both codes on consecutive days last week. The Rock Factor was the first of the pair to collect in the concluding handicap at Dundalk on Wednesday.

Ben Coen guided the gelding to a first career victory by a comfortable four lengths. Making his first start since June and stepped up in trip to ten furlongs, the winner returned an 11-2 chance.

BREAKTHROUGH

Placed in four of his five previous outings, Rokanako gained a deserved breakthrough at Clonmel last week for trainer Eddie Power who is based near Ballylynan.

Despite the odd jumping error, Michael Kenneally was able to steer his mount to a break of over three lengths at the end of the auction maiden hurdle.

Owned by Sean Dalton, Rokanako rewarded favourite backers at odds of 11-10.

FILLIES' MAIDEN

Ladies Gossip, third on debut at Dundalk a month earlier, went two places better to take the fillies’ maiden on the polytrack on Friday evening.

Joey Sheridan had his mount close to the pace, set by the odds-on favourite Sensational Filly, and she kept finding in the straight to collect by half a length from Bougie Gals trained by Michael O’Callaghan.

The winner is trained by Joseph O’Brien for owner Mark Dobbin.

“There was a strong breeze with plenty of kickback on the track for her to face on her debut. She has come forward from that experience,” Sheridan said.

“She will improve for that again plenty. She took a bit of pulling up, so I think she will get further too.”

ANOTHER WINNER

Justenzia provided another winner for the Paddy Harnett in the 12f apprentice handicap at Dundalk on Friday.

There were any number of chances between the final two furlongs, but the champion apprentice got a nice tune out of his filly who ran clear by a length and a half at the close.

Denis Hogan trains Justenzia who was due a change of luck having placed second on five occasions since her previous win over a year ago.

BANSHA TRAINER

Aviatrice won the featured event at Dundalk on Friday evening, the Listed Irish EBF Cooley Fillies’ Stakes, for the second year running.

Bansha trainer David Marnane’s filly has an excellent record on the polytrack with four wins and three times second from eight starts.

Newly crowned champion jockey Billy Lee produced Aviatrice with a good turn of foot in the home straight and the 3-1 second favourite went in by three-quarters of a length.

“I got a nice tow into the race. She picked them up well. I maybe got there a little earlier than I would have liked. She is just very good on this surface,” Lee said.

Aviatrice carries the colours of owner Niall Molloy.

Upcoming Fixtures

Dundalk Weds Nov 11 (first race 2.30pm)

Thurles Thurs Nov 12 (first race 12.18pm)

Dundalk Fri Nov 13 (first race 2.40pm)

Navan Sat Nov 14 (first race 11.52am)

Navan Sun Nov 15 (first race 11.40am)