logo
Snellen springs surprise in the Meld Stakes

Snellen springs surprise in the Meld Stakes

Irish Examiner17-07-2025
A globe-trotting filly, trained by Gavin Cromwell, Snellen proved a shock winner of the Group 3 BoyleSports Meld Stakes at Leopardstown, pipping odds-on favourite Purview.
Ridden by Shane Foley, deputising for the suspended Gary Carroll, the 16-1 shot came from last to first, challenging down the outside to lead at the furlong pole and dug deep to see off Colin Keane's mount by a short-head, with a three lengths back to long-time leader Galen.
Tight for room early in the straight, Purview squeezed through and had every chance through the final furlong. He stayed on but was narrowly denied.
'She had a really good run in Ascot and is a solid filly,' said winning rider Foley. 'The race worked out lovely, in a small field. I was able to take my time, which is perfect on her. She picked-up better than I expected off the turn and, when it mattered, she found plenty.
'It was a very nice spare to pick up, but I'm sure Gary will be back on her the next day.'
The Joseph O'Brien-trained Queen Of Hawaii built on a promising debut run at the Curragh to take the one-mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden in convincing fashion from front-runner Minerva.
Dylan Browne McMonagle delivered his challenge turning for home and, in command before the furlong-pole, the Kingman filly stretched away to triumph by two and a half lengths.
'She had a lovely run in a strong maiden and came forward from it," said O'Brien. 'She appreciated stepping up to a mile and you'd have to be impressed by the way she won.
'If she's to keep to a mile we'll have to wait. But she's in the Silver Flash here next week and the Debutante and they're options if we decide to drop back to seven furlongs.'
Fifth in the Albany at Royal Ascot last time, Fairy Oak, ridden by Colin Keane, who completed a double on Noel Meade's newcomer Heiselectric in the 10-furlong maiden, made all to justify 10-11 favouritism in the opening two-year-old maiden, outpointing promising newcomers Yellowstone Lake and Morehampton.
'She was entitled to win her maiden,' stated trainer Michael O'Callaghan. 'Colin felt she had sharpened up from Ascot and that she'd prefer faster ground. She'll step back up in class — she's in the Lowther and has a few other big entries. She's a real two-year-old, very straight-forward and a real trier.'
Similar front-running tactics paid off for Chris Hayes on board 33-1 shot Time Bender in the Irish EBF Auction Series 2-Y-0 Maiden, Bill Durkan's charge holding on by almost two lengths from Joltin, despite jinking right close to the line.
'He's been working well with Parkside Lad and the barrier-trial he was going to was cancelled, so we had no option but to come here,' explained Durkan's assistant Gary Gannon. 'He's a nice horse, from a nice family, and open to plenty of improvement. And he's for sale.'
And 11/4 favourite Tatum brought up doubles for Noel Meade and Chris Hayes when staying on dourly to foil Louiescall, narrowly, in the Champions Festival Handicap.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Red Evolution claims Doneraile Handicap
Red Evolution claims Doneraile Handicap

Irish Examiner

time4 days ago

  • Irish Examiner

Red Evolution claims Doneraile Handicap

Runner-up in the recent 'Rockingham' at the Curragh, the Michael O'Callaghan-trained three-year-old Red Evolution, a course and distance winner back in May, stepped-up to land the featured, €45,000 Doneraile Handicap in Cork. Ridden by Dylan Browne McMonagle, the Mehmas gelding chased a strong pace and came through inside the final furlong to foil Eclairage by a length and a quarter. 'I had a good pace to aim at, which was ideal,' explained the winning rider. 'He was very genuine when I got stuck into him and found plenty. He's very solid and getting stronger and improving with age and racing.' Red Evolution might now be aimed at a 0-100 three-year-old handicap at the Curragh on August 9 before a possible tilt at the listed Abergwaun Stakes at Tipperary (August 31). Dylan Browne McMonagle completed a double, bringing his seasonal tally to 49, just one behind reigning champion Colin Keane in the title race, when seen at his strongest on Joseph O'Brien's filly Mojave River in the Buy Tickets Online At Median Auction Race. The 4/6 favourite had to dig deep to see off market rival Nancy J before holding the late challenge of Sonoran by a half-length. Renewing Tipperary rivalry with Ballydoyle colt and favourite Kansas, on 5lb. better terms, Jack The Bachelor (Jack Kearney) readily turned the tables when making all to take the five-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Rated Race. The Mehmas colt was another winner for trainer Stephen Thorne, who commented, 'He's a very, very speedy horse. And five furlongs on a flat track, on fast ground, is what he needs – he's all speed. 'We thought he had a great chance of overturning the Tipperary form, at the revised weights, and he was drawn in the car park in Down Royal. 'We'll look for a listed, five-furlong race on a flat track. He might have to travel. And there's the five-furlong at Dundalk in the autumn (the 'Legacy' on October 3).' Having her fourth start, the Paddy Magee-trained Rosie Frith (20/1) ploughed a lone furrow up the far side to good effect in the opening Irish EBF Auction Series 2-Y-0 Maiden, scoring by two and a quarter lengths and giving apprentice paddy McGettigan his tenth winner of the season. Apprentice Adam Browne-Souza rode out his 10lb claim when partnering Colter Bay, trained by his grandfather Willie Browne, to a narrow victory in the six-furlong maiden. On the final day of jumps action before the Galway festival, champion-jockey Paul Townend delivered a double for Willie Mullins in the maiden hurdle action in Kilbeggan. Wide-margin winner of a Tramore bumper on debut, Love Me Tender made all to justify 30/100 favouritism in the opening Tote Maiden Hurdle, coasting home eighteen lengths clear of chief market rival Power Of Words. Townend commented, 'He won well and his price said he should. He loves jumping and is always looking for the next hurdle. He was impressive in his bumper and again today.' The enigmatic, lightly-raced eight-year-old Dysart Dasher completed the Mullins/Townend double, making all the running in the Tom McCormack Memorial Maiden Hurdle. 'He's talented but quirky, it's a family trait,' said Townend. 'He's mentally sill immature, but he's maturing and developing. He's a big unit for around here and should enjoy going chasing.' Jockey Aidan Kelly rode out his 5lb. claim on board Padraig Roche's filly Sprinkles in a division of the 0-100 handicap hurdle while the Shane Broderick-trained A Wave Of The Sea recorded his first win since February 2022, under Mark Walsh, in the Egan Stone Kilbeggan Handicap Chase.

Treble for Joseph O'Brien as Browne McMonagle claims 47th success of season
Treble for Joseph O'Brien as Browne McMonagle claims 47th success of season

Irish Examiner

time5 days ago

  • Irish Examiner

Treble for Joseph O'Brien as Browne McMonagle claims 47th success of season

Highlight of an across-the-card treble for Joseph O'Brien and a 47th success of the season for Dylan Browne McMonagle, who was completing a double, North Coast turned over hot-pot Flushing Meadows in the Group 3 Japan Racign Association Tyros 2-Y-0 Stakes in Leopardstown. Third to the 30/100 favourite when both colts made their respective debuts at the Curragh, the Starman colt made all, had the favourite in trouble with two furlongs to race and stayed to score by six lengths, with Ryan Moore easing his mount, when clearly beaten, inside the final furlong. 'I was very impressed, particularly in the last hundred yards,' stated O'Brien. 'He's a smart colt, with a good attitude. We've campaigned him aggressively – this was his fourth run. We decided we'd make the favourite work for it and it worked out really well. 'The obvious race for him is to go straight for the National Stakes at the Curragh. And the Breeders Cup Juvenile might suit him well around the bend. I'm excited about his future.' Successful with hurdling debutant Claude (J J Slevin) in the Wexford opener, O'Brien also landed the Frank Conroy Irish BF 2-Y-0 Maiden with 12/1 shot Hardy Warrior who, building on an eye-catching debut at Killarney, made all to see off South island and favourite Montreal, who was slowly into his stride. 'We were very happy with his Killarney run – he was quite green and Declan (McDonogh) gave him a very positive review,' explained O'Brien. 'He put his experience to good use here, quickened up nicely and looks a nice colt. 'He should continue improving and is a solid, tough colt. We'll stick to a mile and he wouldn't want ground any faster than today. We might look at the 'Beresford' for him.' The Ballydoyle team, Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore, had enjoyed better luck in the Group 3 Saudi Cup Silver Flash 2-Y-0 Stakes when Composing justified 4/9 favouritism in fine style. Soon in front, Moore dictated the pace on the Curragh maiden winner and, having quickened clear before the furlong-pole, she ran on well to triumph by three and a quarter lengths from Skydance. 'You'd have to be delighted with that,' said Aidan O'Brien, 'She's a lovely straight-forward filly. She won lovely at the Curragh for Wayne (Lordan) and Ryan loved her tonight – she was very professional. 'She'll go for the 'Debutante' at the Curragh (August 23) next and could be a filly for the Moyglare after that.' Carriganog filly Teewinot was an uneasy 13/8 favourite for the Irish EBF Median Sires Series 2-Y-0 Fillies maiden but was brushed aside by Stephen Thorne's debutante Mayflower, who overcame a tardy start and swooped late under Ben Coen (his 30th winner of the season) to score by a length and a quarter, in the colours of Shamrock Thoroughbreds. 'She came highly recommended by Robson Aguilar,' said Thorne. 'She's a big girl and this was an ideal place for her to start. She quickened well and looks a filly with a future.' Later, Dermot Weld stated, 'Tactics still win races,' after Chris Hayes partnered Alice Monet, winner of a recent 'optional claimer' at Fairyhouse, to a convincing all-the-way success in the Dublin To Bahrain Race Series 3-Y-0 Handicap, adding, 'This was a good opportunity and I think she'll develop into a stakes filly.' In Wexford, Phillip Enright took the riding honours, registering a double in the divisions of the WTW Willis Handicap Hurdle, on the Aengus King-trained joint-favourite Chosen Shant and twelve-year-old 25/1 shot Dontdooddson, trained by Darren Collins.

Havana Anna repeats Naas success
Havana Anna repeats Naas success

Irish Examiner

time6 days ago

  • Irish Examiner

Havana Anna repeats Naas success

A six-length winner of her maiden over course and distance last time, the Donnacha O'Brien-trained Havana Anna followed-up when registering a clearcut victory in the listed Arqana Irish EBF Marwell Stakes in Naas. Ridden by Gavin Ryan, the 6-4 favourite tracked a strong pace set by market rival Cardiff By The Sea before edging ahead a furlong and a half from home and drawing clear to beat Ipanema Queen by three and a half lengths. 'She's a smart filly and took the step-up in class well,' stated O'Brien. 'She's straight-forward and has loads of pace and, although she leans left under pressure, it doesn't stop her going forward. 'We'll have to look at the top five and six-furlong races with her now. She's in the Lowther. I'd like to think she can develop into a Cheveley Park filly and we can work back from there.' O'Brien and stable jockey Ryan completed a double when Irish 2,000 Guineas fifth Comanche Brave justified 4-7 favouritism in the VEI Global Race, coming from off the pace to beat Bravais by three-quarters of a length. 'That should give him a bit of confidence,' said O'Brien. 'Gavin gave him a lovely ride and feels he'd have no problem dropping back to six furlongs. But, for now, the plan is to go for the Platinum (seven furlongs) in Cork in a few weeks.' On his first visit to Naas, Tom Marquand landed the other listed prize on the card, the Yeomanstown Stud Irish EBF Stakes on board 11-10 favourite Sky Majesty, another Irish stakes-race winner for trainer William Haggas. Under a 7lb penalty, for her Group success last year, the Blue Point filly triumphed by three-quarters of a length after a protracted duel with Carla Ridge. Marquand said: 'She's a lovely filly and it was worth travelling over. We didn't go over-hard early, which didn't really suit her, but the stiff finish and ease in the ground helped. She was strong through the last furlong. The key to her is the ground. 'She has won in a better grade and it's nice to get her head in front again. I'm sure she'll step-up again now with this win under her belt.' The Fozzy Stack-trained newcomer Red Earth, a No Nay Never colt, ridden by Seamsi Heffernan, prevailed narrowly over Krasimir in the two-year-old maiden and will be aimed at the Goffs Million. Earlier, Henry de Bromhead declared it 'a brilliant day', having saddled a sparkling 34-1 treble in Wexford, two of his winners ridden by the season's leading rider Darragh O'Keeffe. On her second start over fences, Ma Belle Etoile took the Wexford Town Mares Beginners under O'Keeffe, who said: 'She travelled a lot better than in Tramore and felt like a different mare. She got a bit idle in front, but won nicely.' Having his first ride for the trainer, Paddy O'Brien delivered the second leg of De Bromhead's treble on board top-weight and 5-2 favourite Wonleg in the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase. Wonleg will head for Tramore, also the plan for Nouvotic who, as second leg of O'Keeffe's double, dug deep to master Palamon in the Beginners Chase. You Oughta Know and the De Bromhead-trained Le Coq Hardi dominated the market for the Forth Mountain Trails Beginners Chase but failed to cope with the Ray Cody-trained 22/1 shot War Correspondent, a first winner since turning professional for 7lb claimer Paddy Cody. And Gavin Brouder received a two-day whip ban following his success on the remarkably consistent, Mick Winters-trained Crowsatedappletart in the Wexford racecourse Supporters Club Handicap Chase.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store