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 www.corkracecourse.ie 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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
King Cuan win the final leg of 83/1 treble for Billy Lee
King Cuan outclassed his two rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race in Fairyhouse, providing Billy Lee with the final leg of a sparkling 83/1 treble. A three-time winner at two before missing all of last season due to injury, the Paddy Twomey-trained gelding had shaped with promise in his comeback run in Cork and, sent off 10/11 favourite, tracked Rowdy Yeats before being unleashed approaching eh furlong-pole. In front early in the final furlong, King Cuan scampered clear to slam Tango Flare, winner of this race for the last two years, by two and a half lengths. 'He has plenty of class and instant acceleration,' stated Twomey, 'He ran well in Cork and this looked a good race for him. I entered him for the big seven-furlong handicap in Cork next week, but he's heading for the listed race at the Curragh on Derby weekend (the Belgrave Stakes on June 29).' And winning rider Lee added, 'He felt great today - he jumped, travelled and really stretched when I asked him. He sprinted to the line and has a lot of pace.' The Limerick man had sparked his treble on board Willie McCreery's once-raced, four-year-old filly Germanese, who got up late to deny Knockmark by a half-length in the CPAC Modular Maiden. 'Her owners' patience has paid off,' said McCreery, 'Billy gave her a lovely patient ride and, while the seven suited for her first run back, she's better at six.' Lee, now four behind Colin Keane in the title-race, was also successful on the Andy Oliver-trained Orchidaceae, who bounced back from a lack-lustre recent run at the Curragh to take the Fairy Night Handicap at the expense of Mr Jeremy. The winner is trained by Andy Oliver who said, 'She ran flat the last day and it turned out that she was in season. She settled and picked-up well tonight. We'll see where we go in handicaps. And black type will be the ultimate aim.' Gary Carroll doubled-up on Gavin Cromwell's Galiway colt Mo Chroi in the Fairyhouse For BBQs Maiden and the Joe Murphy-trained filly Dolce Far Niente, who got off the mark in a division of the ten-furlong 0-60 handicap. It was a night to remember for two young jockeys who registered their significant wins. Jo Harnett, younger brother of Paddy, savoured his breakthrough success on Mark Fahey's top-weight I Bid You Ajou in the Dino Day 9th July Handicap. Meanwhile, in Clonmel, Paul Kavanagh, from Tuam, partnered Enda Bolger's recent Tipperary scorer Gimme A Buzz to a narrow victory over Ballycashin in the Clonmel Show Handicap Hurdle, the rider's second career success and his first in Ireland. Smallcraftwarning, having his third run for John Ryan and back over hurdles, landed a significant gamble in the Bulmers Zero Handicap Hurdle but Ryan and jockey Liam McKenna were denied a double when My Gaffer was pipped by Declan Queally's Oh So Charming (Paddy O'Brien) in the featured Bulmers Original Handicap Hurdle. 'All he does is jump and he'll be lovely over fences,' said Mike O'Connor after partnering 4/6 shot Trasna Na Pairce to as clear-cut, all-the-way win in the Botanica International Rated Novice Hurdle.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Galway Hurdle or Ascot beckon for O'Brien's Mr Percy's after impressive win at the Curragh
Ousted as favourite by Sixandahalf, the Joseph O'Brien-trained Mr Percy (2/1) availed of bottom-weight to land the Sky Bet Race To The Ebor (Premier) Handicap at the Curragh. Ridden by 5lb claimer Wayne Hassett, the five-year-old was boxed-in along the inside early in the straight, but got a gap in sufficient time to challenge and master 25/1 shot Jabbar by a neck, with former Group 1 winner Helvic Dream in third. 'Wayne gave him a lovely ride - he had a nice draw, got into a nice spot behind the leaders, waited for the gap and was tough when he got it,' was O'Brien's summing-up of the race. 'He's a smart horse. He won a Grade 2 novice hurdle in Fairyhouse and we're learning about him. I think cheekpieces, good ground and being delivered late are what he wants. 'We might look at one of the handicaps in Ascot, although it might be a bit too soon. Or we could look at the Galway Hurdle and come back here in the autumn for the Irish Cesarewitch.' In the other premier handicap action, the Michael Grassick-trained Gazelle D'or, a beaten favourite at Fairyhouse last Friday and wearing cheekpieces for the first time, made no mistake when coming through inside the final furlong to beat Brigid's Cloak by a length in the five-furlong Sky Bet Handicap. 'It's a nice pot to win,' said Grassick following the Equiano filly's success under Wayne Lordan, 'Nothing followed the leader in Fairyhouse. We were too far back and he never came back. The drop back to five furlongs helped her and this was the right race for her. 'She's a hard, tough, honest filly, very straight-forward. There are plenty of races for her and we might stick to five for now. Black type will be the plan later in the season.' Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore struck on the double in the two-year-old maidens, scoring with newcomers Amadeus Mozart and Flushing Meadows, both sons of Wootton Bassett, brining Ballydoyle's tally in the 2025 juvenile ranks to eleven wins. Sent off 10/11 favourite for the opening seven-furlong Sky Bet For The Fans Irish EBF Maiden, Amadeus Mozart produced a workmanlike display to hold promising stable-companion Dorset by a half-length, prompting O'Brien to comment, 'He's a lovely big colt and he should come forward plenty. Ryan liked him and feels he won't mind stepping up in trip. 'He's still very green and we won't rush him. He needs time and will appreciate going a mile.' The Ger Lyons-trained Evening Blues, runner-up to Albert Einstein in Naas last time, proved friendless in the market for the six-furlong Irish EBF 2-Y-0 Maiden but flopped in a race which saw Ballydoyle colt Flushing Meadows justify market support (7/2 to 5/2), at the expense of 80/1 shot The Piper's Call. 'He'll have no problem going into a group race at six furlongs,' stated O'Brien, 'He's a lovely colt and, like the first horse, hadn't been away. He's sharp and came here with a view going to Ascot, but that might come a bit quick. 'He'll have no problem going seven furlongs, but we might stick to six for the moment – he might come back here for the 'Railway' (on Derby weekend).' Jessica Harrington enjoyed a welcome change of luck when seven-race maiden Cold Hearted (Shane Foley) swooped late in the Newtown Anner Stud colours to deny trail-blazing favourite Stella Alpina by a half-length in the Spar Shop At The Curragh Maiden over six furlongs. 'The filly deserved it and I think I deserved it too, after all the placed horses we've had,' quipped a relieved Harrington.
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.
