Rogue Legend can get punters off to flying start at Cork
Flat action Tuesday evening in Mallow, where Rogue Legend can get punters off to the best possible start by taking the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden for Paddy Twomey and Billy Lee.
The juvenile made his racing debut over course and distance a fortnight ago and ran a race of promise when taking second place behind the previously raced Oh Cecelia. He hung left towards the stands' side rail at a crucial point of the race but when able to switch back out, he finished off to good effect.
While the winner was a shade comfortable at the line, the selection can be expected to be much more streetwise this time, and that should be enough to make him hard to beat.
Raphello was a couple of places behind him on that occasion and will do well to reverse the form. Baker Blue is feared more. He finished third behind the potentially very smart Joyful Tidings on his only start to date and showed plenty of pace in doing so. With that run under his belt, and the stable looking as though it is about to strike form, he can run a big race.
The second race, Follow Us On Social Media Handicap, is a fascinating contest. Tropical Retreat probably won't be streetwise enough to come out on top but there is little doubt Tom Mullins' twice-raced filly will, in time at least, prove much better than her mark of 72.
An eyecatcher on debut, she won second time up, over the minimum trip, at Dundalk, and the way she travelled through that race had an unmistakable quality about it. She was green under pressure but forged on close home to win by half a length. Value for considerably more than the winning margin, she is a smart sort in the making, and worth noting in the market.
In race three, the five-furlong, 0-60 handicap, the selection is An Laochmor, though the threat of the thoroughly frustrating My Girl Sioux looms large.
In late March, the selection ran a fine race in defeat in a five-furlong race at Navan but was caught in the closing stages. Upped to six furlongs next time, he ran another good race but was unable to sustain his effort inside the final hundred yards. Back to five today, the four-year-old, who has plenty of natural speed, can get off the mark at the eighth time of asking.
To date, only Cian Horgan has managed to coax My Girl Sioux across the line in front, and that record of one win from 46 starts is a glaring concern. Runner-up eight times, four of which have been since January, on her latest outing, which was just three days ago, she went to the front inside the quarter-mile pole, only to be picked off by Devil's Angel. If returned to waiting tactics, she will be a danger — and she certainly couldn't be begrudged a long overdue second win — but her record suggests she'll find one too good.
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Irish Examiner
01-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
'She dug in' - Magny Cours shows grit in Listowel
Young trainer Daniel McLoughlin has a promising sort on his hands in the shape of Magny Cours, debut winner of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies' Maiden, the second race on yesterday's Flat card at a busy Listowel racecourse. Clearly, the filly had been showing the right signs at home as the market spoke favourably, and when some grit was required, she showed she also possesses that. Luna Mia threw down a challenge in the straight but Ben Coen got a great response from Magny Cours and they shaded the verdict. 'We thought a lot of her at home,' said McLoughlin, who trains 20 horses, most of which are two-year-olds. 'Conor Quirke, from Fermoy, and his wife, Katherine, own her, and they've been very good to me. 'Conor got in touch with me at the end of last year, and from there it spiralled, and you'd swear he's a fella I know for 10 years. He sent me to two-year-olds and I couldn't thank him enough. 'I thought inexperience might have got the better of the filly today, but Ben said he gave her two or three, and when he put the stick down, she dug in. She's good and genuine. She's by an underrated sire in Awtaad, and she's not fully furnished. She's going to mature, going to strengthen up.' A step up to Group 2 company could be on the cards for the winner. Gavoo showed promise on debut, when finding only subsequent Group 1 runner-up Andab too good, and duly built on that with a fine effort in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden. The gambled-on Fresh Fade set out to make all the running from his favourable draw, next to the rails, and looked for much of the race as though he may have stolen it. However, the David Marnane-trained Gavoo, ridden by Luke McAteer, picked up really well close home and got on top with three parts of a length to spare, the pair a proverbial mile clear of the remainder. White Clover put a second win on her card when taking the Croom House Stud Handicap for Joe Murphy and Gary Carroll. Always to the fore, she edged ahead inside the final furlong and fended off market leader Never Shout Never by half a length. In the absence of Wannabe Royal, only four went to post for the Coco AT The Arcade Race and Admiral Churchill used the opportunity to put the seal on a second success of the season. Winner of a Limerick maiden, Paddy Twomey's horse made all under Billy Lee and found plenty to keep all challengers at bay. Doneraile trainer Brendan Walsh saddled his first winner on the Flat when Liamo came from last to first to take the James Collins Memorial Handicap under Wayne Hassett. The winner, not without his supporters at big prices, looked to be in a difficult position for much of the race but picked up really well in the straight and ultimately won a shade comfortably. Walsh was hopeful the gelding might win another one or two for the yard, and that he might jump a hurdle a little further down the line. Eric McNamara and Robert Whearty teamed up to win the Lane Family Memorial Handicap with Ifitwasme, and the gelding showed real appreciation for the step up to two miles. Market leader Dark Note set what looked like a modest pace and was ideally placed to kick from the front, but Ifitwasme, who was a winner over hurdles at this track at last year's Harvest Festival, swept by on the turn for home and readily went clear. Chatterbox stayed on well to take second place, with the favourite holding on to third place. There was an exciting finish to the finale, the Acro Fire & Safety Qualified Riders' Race, and victory went to Gentleman Joe, from the stable of Henry de Bromhead. Lark In The Mornin made most of the running, but John Gleeson, aboard the eventual winner, kept tabs on him and mounted a challenge in the straight. The 3-1 eventually got on top and then did just enough to deny the fast-finishing Sorrentino by half a length. The National Hunt brigade, who were in Kilbeggan on Sunday, will be back in Listowel this afternoon for the final day of the June Bank Holiday meeting.
Irish Examiner
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- Irish Examiner
Twomey and Lee enjoy treble success in Cork
Paddy Twomey and Billy Lee dominated proceedings on last night's card in Mallow, recording a near 6-1 treble, achieved with varying degrees of complexity. Rogue Legend set the ball rolling and did so with the least drama. In fact, the grey son of Havana Grey, was prominent throughout and won the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden with plenty to spare. It was a nice step up on his promising debut here two weeks ago. Said Lee: 'He travelled easily today, and everything was nice and comfortable and straightforward, which I thought it would be the last day, but he was very raw. When I let him go, he was inclined to go left again, but I let him go to the rail and he straightened up and won within himself. You'd like to think there's a bit more to come from him.' No Alibi doubled up for Twomey and Lee by winning the Signal Mutual Maiden, but the Blame filly first had to come out on top in a photo finish and then had to survive a stewards' enquiry. She got on top over a furlong out but hung left under pressure. She and early leader Stella Alpina came close together just before the line but the rider of the runner-up didn't have to stop riding and, despite the distance being a nose, the right decision was made to have no alteration to the result. The treble came in the most dramatic fashion as Royal Entry, as is her wont, dwelt in stalls and conceded considerable ground to all bar one of her rivals. She was some 20 lengths behind racing into the first turn but aided by the field going a furious gallop at that point. Lee made up ground at the right time of the race and given she has prodigious talent, the filly was able to pick up again to see off the well backed but disappointing Tswalu. A competitive five-furlong race was second up and Red Evolution, trained by Michael O'Callaghan and ridden by Jamie Powell, shaded the verdict from favourite Jorge Alvares. At the end of a furiously run race, only a short head separated them, but Red Evolution, who cost €300,000 at the breeze-up sale in 2024, did just enough to Hightimeyouwon has been a superb horse for all connections, and when he stepped back onto the turf for the Blackwater Apprentice Handicap, the Stephen Thorne-trained nine-year-old put an eleventh career victory on his card. Winner of three of his last four on the all-weather, he made the most of his lower turf mark to win this one with quite a bit in hand. 'First runner, first winner here,' said Thorne. 'We deliberately gave him a nice break as he was on the go all winter. He ran particularly well, and he has now won four of his last five starts. He won a very good handicap for the winter, and a couple of claiming races as well. He's a good, solid, fun horse, and we knew he was nicely handicapped coming back onto the turf – he has a 10lb lower rating – so we were keen to use that to our advantage.' Nezeeh came through strongly to win the Buy Tickets Online At Handicap with real authority. On paper, it wasn't a strong race, and the ex-Godolphin horse, whose only previous win came on debut in August 2023, had his fair share of supporters from 16-1 down to 8-1. Always to the fore, the Denis Hogan-trained and Joey Sheridan-ridden gelding took over inside the final furlong and raced away to win in the style of one who can follow up. With 36 runs and just one previous win, Together Aclaim was a difficult one to pinpoint as a likely winner of the finale, the Racing Again June 13 Handicap, but the six-year-old produced a stylish performance under Keithen Kennedy. The 25-1 chance missed the kick, though not in the same style as earlier winner Royal Entry. The John McConnell-trained horse made steady progress through the race and, despite a huge field in front of him, he flew up the far side to get on top deep inside the final furlong. The gamble of the race was Warrior Lord, and he was a shade unlucky and will make amends before long.
Irish Examiner
20-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Rogue Legend can get punters off to flying start at Cork
Flat action Tuesday evening in Mallow, where Rogue Legend can get punters off to the best possible start by taking the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden for Paddy Twomey and Billy Lee. The juvenile made his racing debut over course and distance a fortnight ago and ran a race of promise when taking second place behind the previously raced Oh Cecelia. He hung left towards the stands' side rail at a crucial point of the race but when able to switch back out, he finished off to good effect. While the winner was a shade comfortable at the line, the selection can be expected to be much more streetwise this time, and that should be enough to make him hard to beat. Raphello was a couple of places behind him on that occasion and will do well to reverse the form. Baker Blue is feared more. He finished third behind the potentially very smart Joyful Tidings on his only start to date and showed plenty of pace in doing so. With that run under his belt, and the stable looking as though it is about to strike form, he can run a big race. The second race, Follow Us On Social Media Handicap, is a fascinating contest. Tropical Retreat probably won't be streetwise enough to come out on top but there is little doubt Tom Mullins' twice-raced filly will, in time at least, prove much better than her mark of 72. An eyecatcher on debut, she won second time up, over the minimum trip, at Dundalk, and the way she travelled through that race had an unmistakable quality about it. She was green under pressure but forged on close home to win by half a length. Value for considerably more than the winning margin, she is a smart sort in the making, and worth noting in the market. In race three, the five-furlong, 0-60 handicap, the selection is An Laochmor, though the threat of the thoroughly frustrating My Girl Sioux looms large. In late March, the selection ran a fine race in defeat in a five-furlong race at Navan but was caught in the closing stages. Upped to six furlongs next time, he ran another good race but was unable to sustain his effort inside the final hundred yards. Back to five today, the four-year-old, who has plenty of natural speed, can get off the mark at the eighth time of asking. To date, only Cian Horgan has managed to coax My Girl Sioux across the line in front, and that record of one win from 46 starts is a glaring concern. Runner-up eight times, four of which have been since January, on her latest outing, which was just three days ago, she went to the front inside the quarter-mile pole, only to be picked off by Devil's Angel. If returned to waiting tactics, she will be a danger — and she certainly couldn't be begrudged a long overdue second win — but her record suggests she'll find one too good.
