01-06-2025
'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.
