Going - Soft, yielding to soft in places. Overcast with showers
Placepot Pool - 18,699.21 Dividend - 86.40 Winning Units - 151.4. Partial Carry Over of 11,104.09 to No CourseQuadpot Pool - 2,561.81 Dividend - 24.90 Winning Units - 75.98. Days Aggregate - 193,656.33 Last Year 171,693.00
Condon's busy weekend off to a flying start
We were discussing beforehand how the family all relished soft ground and the dam (Drombeg Dawn) was an Irish Linconshire winner on soft,. We liked the horse in the spring and I said to Phil (McAuliffe, owner) we'd have him ready to run Guineas weekend but he grew on us. Even now isn't furnished but that's a nice way to be as he is a big frame, has scope and has a bit of talent which compensated for a little lack of maturity. Hopefully he will develop further, Niall (McCullagh) was nicely impressed and has ridden long enough and plenty good ones to know. I think he can makes Stakes level although I'm not entirely sure where we go next.
Pat Martin and red-hot apprentice a Pretty Smart combination
She was very unlucky in Fairyhouse when she got no run and then Dylan couldn't ride her the last day and Mickey (Sheehy) did a great job on her. It was a toss-up between Dylan and Mickey but I've been able to get Dylan as often as I've wanted, so it was the right thing to do. We changed her routine, we don't gallop her anymore and do strong canters. Since we've stopped asking her to work fast at home, she has got a lot stronger, eats better and is a happier bunny now.
Snapraeterea makes all to land second Listed success
He is one of the toughest, most honest horses you'd ever get and I think the mile and a furlong the last day (sixth in the Meld Stakes at Leopardstown) was too far for him. Declan said he loved this straight seven and burned them all off one by one. John (Farrell) bred and owns all the family, has kept them all and the horse and owner deserve every success.
Second double in two days for in-form Condon
Weren't we lucky we didn't lose her in claimers?!. She had shaped well in a claimer at Limerick and seven (furlongs) is perfect for her. We've asked her some questions, the last day she ran over five and she still turned up. We gave Joey a chance to rider her with plenty of confidence and she responded to that and seems to thrive on it. The dam is a half-sister to Libertarian (runner-up in the Derby) and she was a 150,000gns yearling so that is enabling her to climb back up the ladder a bit. When you have that bit of pedigree it stands to you, even in her behaviour and she seems to be in a good place. She is ground-versatile, we'll keep going and find something similar and, as always with fillies, we'll try for black-type in the autumn.
'Stout' Karlsberg gets her Cork opener
we went to Galway last Sunday, the ladies were all dressed up but I thought she wouldn't like the ground so the owners allowed me take her out. She'd like an ease and we came here instead. She caught the eye of plenty up the stand rails at the Curragh and we freshened her up and let her come along since. We picked this race and it paid off today. Whatever the handicapper does, we'll keep her into whatever bracket he puts us into. Hopefully she'll win again. She's a big lump of a mare.
Second win in a week for Ten Ten Twenty
it was a risk running him over seven furlongs but he did it well, we're very pleased with him and he's improving the whole time. I'd imagine he'll go back to 1m2f plus, which is his proper trip, and he is a fine big very good looking horse and I'd imagine he could go jumping in time. He has had a busy couple of weeks and deserves a break before his next run.
Twomey filly very impressive in Cork feature
We've had her since April and she has not put a foot wrong. I was very keen to go to Killarney the last day for experience when the chance was there - the owners wanted to go straight into Group company but I talked them out of it and I'm glad now we did. She is progressing physically and is enjoying training and has plenty of talent. She has plenty of entries and I said after Killarney that the EP Taylor is a possible target, but I have her in the Champion Fillies and Mares race in Ascot in October and the Prix Vermeillle is in France for her also. She is versatile ground-wise and while she has to step up past Group 3, I think 1m4f is no problem to her, although she has the pace for 10 furlongs. I was hoping she'd do something like that.
Keane completes double on Weld's Azallya
She is a grand, lovely big honest mare and has improved with each of her runs so far and improved again today. She is well bred, likes the ease in the ground and Colin was very pleased with her. Hopefully she can win again and we'll look for a handicap with her next.