Cloudy Rock and Paul Townend© Photo Healy Racing
Sean O'Brien's Cloudy Rock now has a point-to-point, a bumper and a hurdle to her name after she today landed the www.galwayraces.com mares event at Ballybrit.
The daughter of Cloudings negotiated the easy-fix flights with aplomb from the front under Paul Townend, and Ruby Walsh was showing signs of anxiousness aboard Little Miss Vic from before the second last.
The successful grey was soon gone beyond recall and though to her credit Little Miss Vic stayed on to close on the run-in she was still a length and a half in arrears at the line.
O'Brien commented: "She wasn't in that long before she ran at Tipperary and wasn't fit enough. She was also taken on from flag-fall while she had an easier lead today. She's probably a bit better going right-handed as well.
"She'll go to Wexford in a few weeks for a mares novice, and hopefully there will be some nice ground there. She's only a slip of a mare and wouldn't want it too soft.
"She has a lovely pedigree, and we have a colt foal by Fame And Glory out of the same mare going to the sales so that won't do him any harm."
Cloudy Rock is owned by O'Brien's wife Caroline, and was bred by his late father John.
The Stewards interviewed R. Walsh, rider of Little Miss Vic, concerning his use of the whip in this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that the rider was in breach of Regulation 10.3(e), in that he used the whip other than down the shoulder or on the hind quarters and having considered his record, suspended him for one race day.
The Stewards requested a report from Sean O. O'Brien, trainer as to the apparent improvement in form of Cloudy Rock, placed first, as compared with its recent form. The trainer reported that his charge disappointed on her last start, it being the first run after a layoff and was taken on for the lead. He added that today's drop in class allowed his charge to dictate matters. He concluded by saying that the mare probably is better going right handed. Having considered the evidence the Stewards noted the explanation offered.
(AM & EM)
