4 days ago
- Entertainment
- 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.
