The Australian Jockeys opened up an eight points lead over their Irish rivals after the first leg of the annual Australian/Irish N.H. Jockeys' Challenge kicked off at Thurles yesterday.
The visiting team recorded a win in Cahir Handicap Chase, when twenty year old former event rider Steve Pateman gained a narrow win on 'Dusty' Sheehy's Princess Alannah. The 10/1 winner held the renewed challenge of Mill Bank, and Paul Carberry, who made two bad mistakes in the race, the second of which occurred at the penultimate fence. The Australians were also third in the race, with William Williamson partnered Kergaul, thus giving the Australians a 16-8 lead after this first leg.
Pateman is looking forward to riding Mose Harper in the Par du Bicka in the Czech Republic on Sunday week and Australian Team Manager John Adams described the winning jockey as 'the rising star of Australian jump racing.'
French Champion Hurdle winner Nobody Told Me (5/4 - 8/11 favourite) proved an expensive failure for punters in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap. Willie Mullins' filly could manage no better than sixth behind Pat Hughes' Lily Shing Shang who was recording her second win in a week.
'Thank you very much Mr. Carberry' was trainer Philip Rothwell's response to Paul Carberry's winning ride on the Co. Wicklow trainer's Dr Torus in the Cashel Beginners Chase.
The winner made all under Carberry and benefited from a mistake by 4/7 favourite Pro Dancer at the final fence to hold on for a length success. Dr Torus returned lame but had pulled a shoe in running.
Local trainer Tim Doyle won Division 2 of the Horse And Jockey Maiden when his #700 purchase Raggtime Toon defeated fourteen rivals under Michael Hussey. Doyle later stated 'we bought her as a yearling. She likes soft ground is a consistent filly who may go hurdling next.'
Jessica Harrington's Lifes A Flyer, under Tommy Treacy, won the Tipperary Beginners Chase, although connections suffered a major setback as the grey gelding broke down on his off fore. Jockey Barry Geraghty escaped injury in the race after receiving a very heavy fall from The Real Solara at the second fence, while Conor O'Dwyer and Ross Geraghty, both brought down in the incident, were also uninjured.
Market drifter Mrs Mason (2/1 - 7/2) landed the opening one mile two year old Maiden for jockey Declan McDonogh and trainer Kevin Prendergast. Mrs Mason stayed on well inside the final 100 yards for a half length win over 6/4 favourite King Jock, with the well backed second favourite, Samphire Red (5/2 - 7/4), staying on well for a never nearer fourth.
The John Oxx trained Akhtari (7/4) won the Horse And Jockey Maiden (Division 1) carrying the colours of the Aga Khan. Akhtari, a son of In The Wings, was always prominent under Fran Berry and led five furlongs out before recording a two and a half length success over Diego Garcia
The concluding October Race was won by 1/3 favourite Theme Song who easily defeated nine rivals under Seamus Heffernan.
Thomas Weekes.
