History was made on the second day of the Bellewstown Festival last evening when 10/1 chance Sir Azzaro became the first American-trained winner at the unique County Meath venue.
Trained in Florida by French-born Franck Mourier, who also spent several years in his native country training outside Chantilly, the two-year-old son of Charnwood Forest swept to the front approaching the three furlong marker and kept on well under Eddie Ahern to land the spoils at the expense of Michael Halford's Shaunas Vision.
Capucine Mourier, wife of the victorious trainer who revealed the couple have been based in America for five years, was overjoyed with the success of their only horse in training after he survived a stewards enquiry: 'This is fantastic. We plan to stay for another three weeks in Ireland and he may run again. The horse is based at the Curragh racecourse where manager Jason Morris has been very helpful.'
Sir Azzaro enjoyed his first taste of Irish racing at the Curragh last Friday evening when he finished eighth in the valuable Goffs Challenge.
Michael Halford had better luck later when he saddled the first two home in the Bambury Bookmakers Handicap headed by 20/1 shot In The Dusk which provided Limerick teenager Rachael Costello with her first success in the plate and contributed to a 3,741 Jackpot Rollover to tonights concluding session.
Bookmakers enjoyed another 20/1 victory earlier when Illusions Tom scored for Wayne Smith, who afterwards landed himself in hot water with the local officials when they dished out a four day suspension for using his whip with excessive frequency. This means Smith will be absent for 10 consecutive days after picking up bans at the Curragh and Sligo over the last week.
Pat Flynn provided the winner of the 1st Div. of the Tote Handicap with 10/1 chance Queen For A Day but there was a sting in the tail for winning rider Tom Queally as he was handed a two-day suspension for using his whip with excessive force and frequency.
Odds-on backers had no anxious moments throughout the opening four-year-old Potato Protection Novice Hurdle over 2m 1f as 1/4 shot Goldstreet simply toyed with his rivals under champion Ruby Walsh to score with the minimum of fuss.
'We have the Galway Hurdle in mind,' said Frances Crowley of the Crock Of Gold Syndicate-owned gelding before she added, 'He likes fast ground and never had to come off the bridle to win today. The horse is too highly rated on the flat at the moment so he'll probably run again in a novice hurdle before Galway.'
