Newcomers Spycraft and Sweet Illusions help Joseph O'Brien to Dundalk double
(far) For Trainer Mcdonogh O'brien Spycraft Joseph Win Declan And
Joseph O’Brien completed a fine double with newcomers Spycraft and Sweet Illusions in yesterday’s two-year-old maiden action in Dundalk.
A 310,000 Guineas purchase, sent off at 10/11 favourite, the Declan McDonogh-ridden Spycraft overcame his inexperience to take the seven-furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Maiden by a half-length from fellow debutant Nepal.
“He’s a work in progress’” said McDonogh, “He travelled quite well but wasn’t sure what to do when I gave him a squeeze. He was tapped for toe and ran around a bit, but he found plenty, particularly when I put my stick down.” “It rode an okay race. He’s a solid horse and should sharpen up for this and improve.”
Earlier, Chris Hayes rode his first winner for the Carriganog operation when Sweet Illusions battled well to overcome uneasy favourite Heather by a neck in the DundalkStadium.com 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden, for which the winner’s stable-companion Beautiful Affair started a strong 5/4 favourite and finished sixth.
A delighted Hayes explained, “It’s nice to ride a winner for Joseph – I ride work for him when he brings horses to work on the Curragh and in racecourse gallops, so it’s great to have a bit of luck for him.”
“She had solid barrier-trial form and Joseph felt she had improved since then. I liked her – she quickened twice or three times, which is a good sign, and toughed it out well. She’s a filly for late spring and summer.”
Hayes went on to complete a double when The Real Screamer, effectively 19lb. higher than when scoring here last month, captured the second division of the Happy Christmas From All At Dundalk Stadium Handicap.
Smashed in the betting into 4/9 favourite, the Paul Flynn-trained three-year-old stayed on strongly to slam market rival Gallo Dell Cielo by three lengths, clearly his final outing in the 47-65 grade.
Champion-jockey, Colin Keane, in action in Hong Kong last week, doubled-up on Brigadier Kakuru and Chicago Storm.
Sent off 9/4 favourite, Brigadier Kakuru made all to beat Movin And Groovin by a length and a half in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Nursery.
The Camacho gelding was continuing the good run of Curragh trainer Danny Murphy, who stated, “He’s a big baby, starting to learn how to gallop. He should improve and might win another. Everything went to plan. And Colin felt that we could drop him back to five furlongs.
Keane had initiated his double on board the Chris Timmons-trained Chicago Storm in the mile-and-a-half claimer, the 11/1 shot digging deep to see off Rhythm And Tyne by a head.
“He’s tricky – he always works well but has been unreliable,” admitted Timmons.
Frustrating, fifteen-race maiden Mint Man (8/11 favourite) got off the mark and provided trainer Pat Murphy with a welcome change of luck when landing the five-furlong maiden under Ronan Whelan, outpointing market rival Crystal Luna by a length.
Promising apprentice Nicola Burns recorded her sixth success when partnering the five-year-old mare Hastily, trained in Rosslare by Tom McGuinness and sporting first-time cheekpieces, to a gutsy win in the seven-furlong 47-65 handicap.