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Irish Examiner
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.
Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Island Hopping can build on Irish Oaks performance
Cork hosts the Flat brigade for a high-quality card while Tramore's four-day August festival gets underway with a seven-race programme. The Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks Stakes is a tricky puzzle to solve but Island Hopping is quite an uncomplicated sort, who likes to get on with her racing, and this provided an opportunity for her to make all the running. Her record of one win in eight outings isn't inspiring but there have been good efforts in there, most notably on her most recent outing, in the Irish Oaks. While she took up a pace-setting role, she was passed with a couple of furlongs to go and yet found plenty in the closing stages to be beaten less than four lengths into third place behind Minnie Hauk and Wemightakedlongway. This represents a significant drop in class and with Elizabeth Jane preferring cut in the ground and Royal Entry's tending to leave herself with plenty to do courtesy of her tardy starts, this is a good opportunity for the selection to put a long overdue second win on her card. Dance Night Andday has never won outside of handicap company, and hasn't yet won this season, but the five-year-old mare produced the best performance of her career to date when runner-up in a Group 3 on her most recent outing, and she can make the most of the slight ease in grade for the NFP Irish EBF Platinum Stakes. Runner-up to Super Sox, who re-opposes, in this race in 2024, she looks well placed to go one place better this time. Last year's winner has had just one run this season and it is difficult to ascertain where she stands. It is a similar story with Rahmi, who was better than ever when winning on her last outing of last season but hasn't run in ten months. East Hampton sets the standard on official ratings and cones here on the back of a career-best effort in a Group 2. She is bound to be popular in the betting and is respected. In Tramore, Tatateo will take a great deal of beating in the Oasis At The Races Acquiesce Friday August 15 Maiden Hurde. A useful sort on the level when trained in Britain, he has made a good transition to jumping with three placed efforts in four starts. His most recent effort, behind Ebony King in Galway, was at least as good as his previous runs, and running to that level once more should be enough for him to make the breakthrough. It will be interesting to see if Louiescall, recently a winner on the Flat, can show improved form back over hurdles. Tommy Lyons' picks: Cork 5:22 Dawn Romance 5:52 Asdana 6:22 Cape Sounion 6:52 Dance Night Andday (nb) 7:22 Island Hopping (nap) 7:52 Walk The Highline 8:25 Not Simple Next best 5:22 Whatastarr 5:52 Tomarlo 6:22 Precise 6:52 Super Sox 7:22 Elizabeth Jane 7:52 Edge Of Seventeen 8:25 Morning Approach Tramore 5:05 Enjoy The Dream 5:35 El Champo 6:05 Tatateo 6:35 Raydamann 7:05 Derryville 7:35 Mother Ship 8:05 Winter Fog Next best 5:05 Ma Belle Etoile 5:35 Mic Drop 6:05 Louiescall 6:35 Jerrari 7:05 Faceman 7:35 That's All 8:05 Magnor Glory
