07-05-2025
Hostility can make if fifth time time lucky at Gowran Park
Hostility can keep the scoreboard ticking over nicely for Joseph O'Brien by taking Wednesday's opener at Gowran Park, the Societies Welcome At Gowran Park Maiden.
Thrice raced at two, he contested some decent maidens and while he was in the first four on all three occasions, he never got close enough to land a meaningful blow. On return, however, he was quite well backed to win a Limerick maiden and was just touched off by Admiral Churchill, the pair a long way clear of the remainder.
With that run under his belt and having the best of the draw, he can pop out and dictate matters, and keep Storm Piece, Iceford, and Hopes Are High, all of which are promising sorts, at bay.
First Wave can make a belated and much deserved breakthrough when he contests the second race, the Thonastown Maiden. Trained by Aidan O'Brien, the Wootton Bassett colt was runner-up to stablemate Expanded on debut and filled the same spot behind another stable-companion Serengeti, in an all-weather maiden on his only other start at two.
He returned in a Curragh maiden and for the third consecutive time, he found one too good, this time in the shape of the promising Dupont Law. He was then sent off an odds-on favourite to win a maiden back at Dundalk but was a shade disappointing in third place behind Pedro Nunes.
O'Brien's horses are striking form now and this fellow has a favourable draw from which to make the most of his fitness and experience advantage over the likes of Pierre Royal, Rizal, and Ben Lawers, all of which would become increasingly interesting if attracting significant market support.
One of the twin features on the card is the listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Vintage Tipple Stakes and Ameerat Jumaira, who posted a huge effort on defeat on debut for Jack Davison, can get back to winning ways.
The five-year-old was a smart sort for the now retired Michael Halford and started off for Davison in the listed Noblesse Stakes at Cork. She took a while to find top stride on that occasion but flew home to take second place behind useful French sort and Irish debutant Bubble Gum.
The winner looked like a top sort in the making, and it could be argued that this was Ameerat Jumaira's best effort to date. That being the case, and with the potential for improvement, she can come out on top.
