John Murtagh took the riding honours at the Curragh this afternoon when partnering a treble aboard the John Oxx-trained pair Amandian and Icklingham, and Woodstamp in the seven furlongs handicap.
Amandian kept on strongly on the stands rail inside the final furlong to beat Penny Rye by two and a half lengths in the six furlongs maiden, and Oxx is hopeful that she is of Listed standard. He said, ´She is a nice filly who has been a little slow to come to hand this spring, and she didn´t stay seven furlongs at Gowran Park last time.´
Icklingham benefitted from the addition of blinkers in the ten furlongs maiden, driven right out by the former champion in the final furlong to beat newcomer High Country by four lengths. Murtagh had an easy time on Woodstamp, who looks set for a significant rise in the ratings after being eased in the closing stages to beat All Sorts Star by an impressive four lengths.
Nysaean recorded his second Group 3 victory here this season when making all under Jimmy Fortune in the E75,000 Patrick P O´Leary Memorial Gallinule Stakes. The four-year-old Sadler´s Wells colt was always travelling well, and quickened up nicely when asked for an effort over a furlong out to beat the well-backed Handel (11/8-1/1fav) by three lengths.
´He didn´t come off the bridle until a furlong out, and is certainly the best horse in our yard,´ said Richard Hannon junior. ´That was a better performance than when he won here in April, and soft ground helps him but he´s alright on anything except firm. He´ll be entered for races like the Irish Champion Stakes,´ he added.
James Burns nominated the Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown on July 16 for Southern Bound who made a winning debut under Timmy Houlihan in the five furlong juvenile maiden. ´She is one of my best bred two-year-olds being a half-sister to Polaire, and good ground would suit her better,´ said Burns.
Local trainer Michael Grassick continued his fine run this season when saddling Irish Empire to take the ten furlongs handicap, leading inside the final furlong under Davy Condon to beat Gan Eagla by a length.
There were emotional scenes in the parade ring after Assigh Lady, ridden by Declan McDonogh for his father Des, battled on well to deny Mainly Mine by half a length in the six furlongs handicap. The five year old mare is owned by Mary Keating, whose husband John is a racecourse starters assistant and recovering from a recent operation, and a lot of the family were present to enjoy the success.
Alan Magee
