Tom Hogan had the biggest win of his training career on the flat at Tralee yesterday (his thirteenth of the 2005 campaign) when Common World landed the Listed Carlsberg Ruby Stakes.
A durable sort, having his twelfth outing this term, Seamie Heffernan had to drive his mount along in rear before halfway, but he soon got into gear, leading a furlong and a half down to hold off Queen Titi by a length. Her rider Colm ODonoghue got a three day ban for hampering fourth placed, Yaria.
Owned by deputy editor of the Irish Field, Mark Costellos wife, Teresa, the chestnut was described by his handler as a very healthy horse and he added that 'we dont be hard on him at home.'
Heffernan came in for praise from Hogan, describing it as a 'brilliant ride,' and the injured Fran Berry (he won on the horse at Cork), was also in the Nenagh mans thoughts.
Unlucky in running when second in the Guinness Gold Cup with Valentina Guest last year, Peter Casey went one better in the 2005 renewal with Blessyourpinksox.
Deputising for the injured Christy Geoghegan (broke his collarbone in a fall from Sunny Lady on Tuesday), Chris Hayes lost his whip when he took over under one furlong out, but the filly kept going well to beat front-running Noend by a neck.
Casey said Hayes gave the 14/1 chance 'a fabulous ride.' Good Surprise, the gamble here, 6/1 into 4/1 favourite, finished fifth.
Gortinard had seven pounds extra to carry as a result of his first victory over fences at the course on Monday, but that proved no inconvenience to Davy Russells mount.
When Galway Hurdle hero More Rainbows fell five out, he badly interfered with Gortinard, but Russell rousted the seven-year-old to the front three out, he was soon clear, overcoming a slight mistake at the last.
Unlike Miss Mambo in the previous event (9/4 into 7/4, finished sixth), the Charles Byrnes runner did lighten layers satchels, 11/4 into 9/4 favouritism.
A malfunction saw Rangoon and Kilmannin left in the stalls at the start of the mile handicap. The runners were eventually despatched by flag, following two more false starts, eleven minutes after the original off.
Loblolly Bay, carrying a mandatory 5Ib penalty for her victory at Gowran last Sunday, made it three on the bounce after she had shed her maiden tag at the Galway Festival.
Kevin Manning had the daughter of Halling in a prominent position throughout, the Jim Bolger-trained 11/2 shot was ridden to lead a furlong out, keeping on well to beat Shaykhan.
A hike of 8Ibs in the ratings for Belle Child, failed to stop the Michael Halford-trained filly following-up her Bellewstown win from six days ago in the opening sprint handicap.
Emmet Butterly got to the front over a furlong out before going on to beat La Motta (third here on Tuesday), by a comfortable two and a half lengths. This was a ninth win for the apprentice.
Halford, enjoying his 40th of the campaign, said, 'she was drawn on the fence, which is a huge advantage around here and confidence was high. We will see how the handicapper reacts now.'
Owennacurra Bobby won the two mile six furlong handicap hurdle last year as an 8/1 chance and he followed up with a 16/1 success today for the same trainer/rider combination of Tom Copper and Niall Madden.
Favourite here, Millanymare (his trainer Tony Martin had a winner at Perth with Kniaz) was backed from 7/2 into 9/4 and was beginning to make a forward move when she was brought down four out.
Billy Lee rode his first winner over hurdles on Susan Finns Tabaco (20/1 into 14/1) in the maiden hurdle. The Mallow-trained German-import beat fellow outsider, Go Ali Go by three and a half lengths.
In other news, Paul Carberry has been stood down until Friday with bruising of his neck after his fall from More Rainbows. Davy Russell was stood down for 24 hours after a fall from Burren Moonshine.
Robbie Mac turned the closing qualified riders handicap hurdle into a fifteen length rout for trainer Liam Burke and rider Colman Sweeney.
