Embassy Gardens too good for Monty's Star in feature
At Michael Embassy & Irish Tramore Grade Racing 3 O'driscoll's Whiskey Picture: Gardens Win Steeplechase The O'sullivan Healy
Undoubtedly, there were disappointments from the Willie Mullins yard across the Christmas period, but New Year’s Day served up nothing but success as he saddled six winners across the day’s two meetings, two of which came in Tramore.
Topping the bill at the Co Waterford venue was the victory of Embassy Gardens in the Grade Three O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey New Year’s Day Chase.
The mount of Michael O’Sullivan, the well-backed 9-1 chance set off in front and quickly found his rhythm. Racing to the winning line with a circuit to go, he opened up an advantage of some four lengths, and thereafter had his rivals playing catch-up.
Market leader Monty’s Star emerged as the only serious threat, but the leader was quicker across the second-last and, similar at the last, in complete control racing up the short run-in.
“It was brilliant,” said O’Sullivan. “He gave me a super feel. He’s a dude of a horse. He jumped and galloped away, and he’d have gone around again.
“We were hopeful coming here. Dave Porter and Georgia, who look after him, were very happy with him. He was probably forward enough for his first run, and he just go into a lovely rhythm.
“Coming down the hill, I couldn’t believe how easy I was going. I had plenty left in the tank, and he winged the last, and won quite snugly.
“I think he wasn’t right at the end of last season, but he’s a gorgeous horse, so I’d say there’s plenty of big ones in him.”
Mullins first winner of the day was the first of the entire year, when More Coko, who won a bumper at this venue on his only previous outing, ran out a very easy winner of the David Flynn Construction Maiden Hurdle.
The five-year-old Cokoriko gelding faced extremely different conditions this time, but he travelled particularly strongly in the hands of Brian Hayes and only had to be pushed out to see off Kilbarry Ce Ce.
“My mother bred him, and he won in her colours here in August,” said Patrick Mullins. “He’s versatile with regards ground and we’ll look for a novice hurdle, but I’m looking forward to getting him over a fence, in time.”
Regarding stable form over Christmas, he said: “When you run 70 or so horses, there are bound to be disappointments – State Man the most high-profile of them - but I think we’re happy where the horses are: in good heart, in good health.”
Michael O’Sullivan, who rode Embassy Gardens, completed his own double when Be Fierce ran out a smooth winner of the Mercedes-Benz Wexford Rated Novice Chase. Ted Walsh’s horse was quite strong in his rider's hands but jumped well throughout and slipped through after the last obstacle to win impressively.
Josh Williamson is another young rider on the up and he recorded the first double of his career when delivering on Machismo and Rochestown.
The former, trained by Gordon Elliott, set the ball rolling when Machismo took the Ryan’s Cleaning Services Maiden Hurdle by a wide margin. He needed some encouragement through the race but the further they went the stronger he got and, giving Elliott his first winner of the new year, the Gigginstown House Stud gelding, whose previous success came in a Borris House point to point, stretched clear from the second-last to win by 25 lengths.
Williamson’s double came up when Rochestown comfortably justified favouritism in the Tramore Medical Clinic Handicap Hurdle. A winner over fences on the same card in 2024, Brendan Walsh’s ten-year-old travelled strongly near the front of the pack, jumped extremely well, and had all the answers when Blue In The West posed a danger.
“That was great,” said Walsh. “He was the form horse in the race and a bit of luck is all we needed. When the rain came, the ground was free, and I was delighted with that. Josh gave him a great ride. Cal Shine would have been riding him, only he is suspended today. Josh is great value for his 7lb claim.
In the Jimmy Shanahan Memorial Handicap Hurdle, the Philip Rothwell-trained and Aidan Kelly-ridden Rockbrook appeared to be the only horse relishing the conditions as he ran out an easy winner. Backing up his win in October at Galway, he was in front rank throughout, jumped particularly well, and his rider never had to get serious.
Maciver, trained by Arthur O’Grady and ridden by Cian Quirke, wrapped up the meeting with victory in the Tom Carroll Memorial Handicap. While he won by 25 lengths, it would have been a whole lot more interesting had well-backed favourite Aodhan May, who still hadn’t been asked a serious question, not refused at the final obstacle. That said, the winner was a length in front at the time and also travelling well.