Going - Good, Good to Firm in places. Overcast, threat of showers
Placepot Pool - 18,668.05 Days Aggregate - 204,772.85 Last Year 187,912.00
Dun Na Sead sparkles at Headquarters
She is definitely the fastest two-year-old we have ever had. She always seemed a bit special and is very quick. Everyone has been very patient with her as she had a touch of sore shins and went out to grass. She did very well in a barrier trial and is a half-sister to a good tough horse of ours Lord Dudley. From flagfall she is gone and a lot of these horses can’t maintain it to the line but she can. We joked a few weeks ago with Liam Clarke, who runs the Kildare Racing Club, that we had half an eye on the Breeders Cup!. We think she’s black-type but we’re under no pressure now and we’ll sit back and see where we go.
New Energy puts in power-packed debut
I have to thank Gary Halpin who gave this horse a big recommendation. He didn’t put the gun to his head at the Breeze Ups because he was suffering a little bit from sore shins. I left him in today but I was praying for rain just to ease the ground a bit. I thought so much of him that he had an entry in the Beresford but I didn’t want his first run to be at that level and have a hard race. He has a Guineas entry and I think he’s something very special. He has a very natural high cruising speed. He ran twice in barrier trails. He was very green the first time when I didn’t put a cross noseband on him and he won the second time. I would love to run him in a winners-of-one but those sort of races are really missing from the programme. He could go for something like the Killavullan Stakes at Leopardstown.
Concert Hall hits right note in Group 3 company
I’m delighted with her and if she comes out of this okay she’ll probably step up and go on to the Fillies Mile. She’s a hardy lady and is going to improve from racing. She stays well and is a good strong build. The mare (Was) won the Oaks.
Ruling conquers all in Curragh
Search For A Song storms home
That was an impressive performance by her and she got the trip very well. There is a couple of possibilities and we will see how she comes out of the race before we decide exactly where she runs next. She’ll obviously run again this year but we’ll speak with her owner Eva Maria Haefner and then decide where we go with her. The Long Distance Cup in which she was second last year is one of the possibilities. She settled beautifully today. It was a very strong pace all the way and you could call her a winner a long way out. I always thought she would get that trip but it was nice to see her do it so well.
Dowdall savours success on Khezaana
She had a lovely run in Galway for us but we still didn’t know a whole pile about her coming here. I worked hard to do the weight for this and wouldn’t have done it for any other horse. I’ve worked for Donal for the last five years and he’s a great man to work for. I’m delighted to ride a winner for him. I rode Shu Lewis for my aunt Monica and she was a very good horse to me. I’m from Louth and I’ve done pony club, showjumping and love my hunting. I’ve ridden winners in America as well when I was based in Pennsylvania. We got her in the sales last July, a Shadwell horse out of Mark Johnston’s. She’s been giving us the confidence that she’s been getting better every week.
Breen picks up good pot with That's Mad
I thought the gap was going to close on him but thankfully it stayed open and Kevin just said he keeps improving. The whole year was mapped around the Joe McGrath. We ran him here out of the handicap just to see he’d handle the track and that was his first run of the season. We have low-grade handicappers in the yard but it’s great to have one to put our name out. He’s been a great servant for the yard. He loves Bellewstown and when you come back to a straight track you have to weave him in and out to keep him interested.
Viareggio scoots in for red-hot Harrington
Scott just said that since we put the visor on her she’s a completely different filly. She’s won by nearly five lengths and she’s already up to 80 so I’m not sure what we’ll do but maybe another nursery. She’s certainly progressing.