Eclairage completes hat-trick for trainer Danny Murphy
The Race Racing Farms & Declan Hat Win Picture: healy Mcdonogh Ebf Irish Trick: eclairage Stallion
Eclairage continued trainer Danny Murphy’s rich vein of form when completing a hat-trick and justifying 4/11 favourite in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Race in Dundalk, sparking a double for her regular rider Declan McDonogh.
Having won two nurseries over course and distance in recent weeks (she was raised a whopping 19lb. for her most recent success), the Kuroshio filly again made all and readily confirmed form with Moonhall Lass.
“She’s a nice filly, improving with every run,” stated Murphy, “She’s quick and loves the game. She wasn’t as quick away but was able to dominate again.”
“She’s had three quick runs and is due a break. We’ll see how she fares on the grass next summer. And we might think about going to Lingfield on Good Friday first – five furlongs around the bends there will suit her.”
Declan McDonogh followed-up on Joseph O’Brien’s once-raced Bated Breath filly Honeysuckle Rose in the two-year-old fillies maiden while Murphy was denied a double when Tribal Moon (7/4 favourite) failed to cope with Daonethatgotaway in a division of the apprentice handicap – another winner for Mark Fahey, who bagged a big ‘pot’ with Flicker Of Hope in Navan last week and a 30th success for rider Keithen Kennedy.
Honeysuckle Rose was building on a promising debut run at the Curragh and impressed McDonogh, who commented, “She loved the surface, jumped well and got into a lovely position. She picked up very well and hit the line strong. She has size and scope and will stay further, one for the future.”
Although 10lb. higher than his last winning mark, Daamberdiplomat (2/1 favourite) prevailed narrowly in a blanket finish to thewww.swiftysports.ie Handicap, helped significantly by a power-packed ride from champion-jockey Colin Keane.
The Johnny Murtagh-trained four-year-old prevailed by a nose over Mehman, with longshot Jered Maddox a head away third and Current Option and Harry’s Bar close behind.
Gavin Cromwell rounded a great Friday when Pepper Noir, (Gary Carroll) up 6lb. for a recent course and distance win, landed the Happy Christmas From All At Dundalk Stadium Handicap convincingly, adding to Cromwell’s earlier successes with Stumptown (Cheltenham) and Robbies Rock (Cork).
Seventeen-race maiden The Bear Trap (Nathan Crosse) struck for the Geoghegan brothers, owner Brian and trainer John, in the seven-furlong maiden, beating Prince Of Eyeries by a neck before surviving a Stewards Enquiry.