Aidan O'Brien continued his amazing record in the two year old, seven furlong maiden at Gowran Park yesterday when his Wuthering Heights made it six straight successes in the race for the Ballydoyle trainer.
Wuthering Heights left a disappointing debut effort at The Curragh well behind him, eventually battling back well inside the final furlong to head Globalized close home.
Trainer Ger Lyons recorded a double, the first of which was with Mighty Mist, who had been balloted out four times recently, in the Kilkenny Handicap. The win was lightweight apprentice Paudraig Beggy's seventh winner while Lyons reported that Mighty Mist has had training problems and is a regular visitor to his equine spa.
The concluding Gowran Park Ladies Handicap was won in comfortable style by Lyons' Henry Afrika, who received a typically confident Carberry ride. Here, however, it was the turn of the youngest Carberry, Nina, to show her riding ability, with a stylish display on the 10/1 winner.
The opening division of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden looked a decent contest with victory going to Kevin Prendergast's 89 rated Leonor Fini. Even money favourite Dangle looked to pose a serious threat inside the final furlong but was outpointed by Prendergast's filly close home. The Co Kildare based trainer later commented 'the fast ground was certainly no inconvenience to her although she has only come right in the last few weeks.'
Apprentice jockey Shane Gorey came in for particular praise after partnering Pat Morris' Soul Legacy to win the Goresbridge Handicap. Soul Legacy (16/1 from 25's, and 46/1 on the Tote) had plenty to do entering the straight but kept on best to lead inside the final furlong. Morris later reported 'the horse is not the easiest to deal with but Shane got on well with him there. His last run at Ballinrobe was very poor but he couldn't manage around the bends.'
Trainer David Wachman is in line for a fine winners total at this early stage of the season and he saddled Desert Gold to win the second division of the fillies' maiden. Afterwards he stated 'she will now be stepped up to a Stakes race and likes that Summer ground.'
Jim Bolger was also on the mark with top weight Tropical Lady who landed the seven furlong 60-90 handicap under Kevin Manning.
Not to be outdone by the successes of the other top Flat yards, trainer John Oxx saddled Cold Cold Woman, grandaughter of an Irish 1,000 Guineas winner, to a narrow win over Indian Pace in the Thomastown Maiden.
Thomas Weekes.
