3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Brace for Twomey aboard Elana Osario and Super Sox at Mallow
Paddy Twomey and Aidan O'Brien both saddled a double on last night's quality card in Mallow, but Twomey earned the plaudits by taking the two feature races courtesy of Elana Osario and Super Sox.
The listed NFP Irish EBF Platinum Stakes was up first and Super Sox, who won the race in 2024, stepped up considerably from her comeback run to land the spoils under Chris Hayes.
While it was quite a tactical affair, which resulted in five horses crossing the line with just a length separating them and hard-luck stories aplenty, the race also likely didn't entirely suit the winner, but she showed an admirable attitude to forge ahead in the final strides.
'Paddy told me to keep it quite straightforward,' said Hayes. 'She's a lovely, big-actioned filly, and we thought the ground would suit.
'I was happy to go forward. If I was in front, I was in front, but when Dylan (McMonagle, on eventual runner-up Gutsy Girl) went forward, I rode it like a bit of work.
'I thought Paddy was fairly sweet on her, but I had had no luck for him since Billy (Lee) has been out. Everything I've ridden for him has finished placed but not won, so I'm delighted to get one for him because Billy will be back shortly.'
Elana Osario completed the stable's 17-1 double with a similarly gutsy display in the feature, the Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks Stakes.
Island Hopping took her customary position at the head of affairs and for much of the trip it looked as though she would prevail.
However, Colin Keane, who had his mount in second place from an early stage, got a great response from Elana Osario and she got on top close home despite shipping quite a heavy bump from the long-time leader.
Aidan O'Brien and Jack Cleary's shared 59-1 double got up and running with Precise, who looked like a fine prospect when winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies' Maiden.
After a quick break, she raced quite enthusiastically, but Cleary, who is proving great value for his 5lb claim, was able to keep a lid on her for as long as he needed. When asked, the filly quickened up sharply and raced to the line clear of Cape Sounion, who set a good standard but proved no match for this lady.
'She had a lovely run the first day, in Fairyhouse, with Wayne (Lordan),' said Ballydoyle representative Chris Armstrong. 'He liked her and thought stepping up to seven would help her.
'Jack gave her a lovely ride today. She jumped smartly, travelled, and made every post a winner. When Jack asked her, she really stretched to the line and wasn't for stopping. He said she was having a look in front, and that there is plenty more to come.
'There are form horses in behind her and she's a filly that has been held in high regard.
'She's well entered up: she's in the Moyglare, she's in the Rockfel, and she could also have the Ingabelle as an option. She'll be there for those good races at the backend, and is certainly one to look forward to.
'When you look at the year Starspangledbanner is having, it's incredible. We've only got a few of them, but when you look at Gstaad and look at her, you wouldn't mind a few more of them.'
Two For Joy completed the Ballydoyle brace when making all the running and finding plenty to see off the frustrating Tswalu in the fillies' maiden over ten and a half furlongs.
In the opening race, a juvenile maiden, a plunge on market leader Dawn Romance went down in the most agonising manner as her late charge failed by a head to catch 50-1 chance Soulful Diva. Despite the odds, David Marnane's filly wasn't without her supporters, and she stuck her head out gamely to land the spoils under Nathan Crosse.
Sam Coen gave the Willie McCreery-trained Asdana a positive ride in the Curragh To Curragh Charity Cycle On Saturday August 30 Handicap and the 11-4 favourite responded generously to fend off the challenges of Titan Sun and Prairie Girl.
In the finale, a one-mile handicap, the quick turnaround proved too much for Wednesday night winner Thegooseiscooked, who had to settle for third place behind the Pat Foley-trained and Niall McCullagh-ridden Famous Enough.
