Venusienne and Cousin Kate impress at tremedous Tramore Races
Danny Morrissey, Director of Tramore Racecourse, presents Frank Berry with the winner's prize after the Willie Mullins trained Venusienne, ridden by Paul Townend, won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Champion national hunt trainer Willie Mullins is never afraid to campaign some of his younger promising brigade in Tramore and unearthed another useful sort with the French bred Venusienne owned by JP McManus who basically sluiced up in a mares maiden hurdle over two and a half miles.
Runner up in a French listed hurdle, Venusienne was dispatched as the red hot 2/7 favourite and lived up to that star billing, recording a bloodless victory. In the early stages jockey Paul Townend eased his mount past the front running but slow jumping Atlantic City and as they say the rest is history.
Jumping with aplomb and clearly enjoying the track and underfoot conditions the favourite increased her advantage throughout and it came as no surprise to see the market leader cross the winning line 27 lengths clear of 50/1 outsider Glenmalure Lady. The winning rider stated post-race the 5-year-old daughter of Authorised should handle winter ground going forward.
The winning trainer went on to record a double with the Brian Hayes partnered May Call You Back the 7/4 favourite taking a 2 miles handicap chase in exciting fashion. A bold jumping Lady Rose Hackett and previous course winner Itsalonglongroad interchanged the lead on more than one occasion but this pair were found wanting in the final quarter mile.
May Call You Back went to the front at that juncture but Sayitfirst came with her challenge between the final two fences. A great battle ensued inside the final furling with ‘May’ emerging victorious by a short head over a gallant Sayitfirst.
In form County Tipperary trainer Denis Hogan combined with jockey Daniel King to capture the first of seven races with Cousin Kate this 13/2 shot coming from off the pace to land the spoils with relative ease.
The always prominent Maxicourt was sent off the lukewarm 13/8 favourite and was in the firing line throughout. Keep It Together held the call up front for a long period but dropped out of contention when pressure was applied by both Maxicourt and Gentle Annie.
Delivered with precision timing Cousin Kate glided into the lead after the final flight of hurdles eventually running out a facile two and a quarter lengths winner over Maxicourt. The winner was bred by former Irish International footballer Kevin Doyle at his County Wexford stud and the winners dam is former Grade one winner Augusta Kate.
A well backed winner at Killarney the previous Sunday Rock Ya Boy Ya was turned out quickly under a mandatory 7lb penalty and despatched as the 7/4 favourite delivered once more for trainer Francis Casey and seven pound claiming rider Alix Balfe.
Racing up with the pace with Stoneyford Lady ‘Rock’ really asserted after the final obstacle drawing clear on the run to the winning post. Five and a half lengths separated the first two home where it mattered. The winner could return to the seaside track on New Years Day to contest a beginners chase.
See introduction.
County Wexford born jockey Jordan Gainford gave the Philip Dempsey trained 10/1 chance Ballinure Lass a patient steer before scoring a shade cosily. In arrears early doors as a well-supported Silent Selector made a bold bid from the front ‘Ballinure’ gradually crept into contention. There were plenty of runners in with every chance jumping the final two hurdles including the 10/11 market leader Inthenickoftime and previous course winner Tullyveery Lad. Quickening into the lead on the wide outside however Killinure Lass took control of matters jumping the last hurdle before racing on to a length and a quarter victory over Inthenickoftime. On a previous visit to Tramore the winner obliged over fences.
See introduction.
County Meath trainer Gavin Cromwell and stable jockey Keith Donoghue teamed up to score with Juke Box Rock the 5/2 favourite. The winner was in no hurry early on as Wakey Wakey Man and Prized Jet locked horns up front. ‘Wakey’ was left in the lead when Prized Jet unseated her rider at the fence along the back stretch. When ‘Wakey’ weakened Mount Shenshan struck the front on the run to the penultimate fence. The grey Juke Box Rock secured a nice run up the inside at that juncture before striking the front from Menas Miracle. At the winning post ‘Juke’ had a length and three quarters to spare over ‘Menas’.
The final race of the afternoon produced a pulsating finish. When a prominent Boo Radley weakened Barra Rua and the gambled on Le Roi Du Livet settled down to scrap it out inside the final two furlongs and the pair eventually flashed over the winning line in unison. The resulting photograph showed the Emmet Mullins trained and Maxine O Sullivan partnered ‘Barra’ 3/1 had just a nose to spare over ‘Le’.
Yielding, soft in places (hurdle and bumper). Yielding, good in places (chase).
- Tuesday November 25th.
