It probably won't live too long in the memory for many but for Sean McGuinness October 22nd 2007 at the Curragh will remain forever as a very important date.
The 18-year-old from Blackpool, England was on Kilmannin for his boss of two years, Harry Rogers, and the RACE graduate got the very experienced 7yo up close home to land his first winner.
This was in the Stephen Quirke Memorial Apprentice H'cap and Kilmannin (16/1) came from a long way back for the 1/2L success over Oddshoes.
He may have been easy to back with concerns about the soft ground but King Jock allayed those fears in the conditions race for Robbie Osborne and Pat Shanahan.
Waited with, the 7/2 shot made ground travelling well on the stand's rail inside the final quarter mile, led inside the final furlong and ran on for a comfortable 1 1/4L win over Belle Artiste.
The runner-up had halved in odds from a morning price 16s into 8/1. Osborne was happy to get his 6yo American-bred's confidence back.
Dubai after Christmas is now on King Jock's agenda. He has been victorious there more than once, including in a Listed event last December.
Hammered at morning prices, Age Of Chivalry did exactly what her backers expected in the opener, the 5/4 favourite following up her course and distance maiden win over the same rival, La Sylvia.
Off level weights when there was a 1 1/2L between the pair in the middle of last month, this time Age Of Chivalry was conceding 5Ibs but the margin of victory was again comfortably the same distance.
John Oxx said of his Michael Kinane ridden winner, 'she likes 5 to 6 furlongs and a bit of cut in the ground. Hopefully she will be up to Listed class next year.'
He concluded with the quip, 'I could do with a few sprinters as most of mine need a trip.' The Oxx/Kinane alliance had chances throughout the afternoon including with Arizona John in the 2.15.
This son of the Moyglare Stud Stakes heroine, Preseli, was well-backed but could only manage third. Teacht An Earraig stepped-up markedly on her debut to take this one.
Spring is coming is the translation of this name and trainer Jim Bolger is already looking ahead for his Galileo juvenile. He commented, 'she is a filly with a future.
'She might take us to York for something like the Musidora Stakes (next May).' The in-form Coolcullen outfit also took the other two-year-old maiden with another Galileo filly, Kitty Hawk Miss.
Backed from 9/1 into 7/1, Kevin Manning led on the well-drawn (22 of 23) June Judd-owned twice previously raced bay two furlongs out and she stayed on well to beat Almass by 1 3/4L.
Bolger mentioned after his 79/1 double, 'Kitty Hawk Miss is a nice filly who came right recently and she might go for a Listed race at Newmarket later next week.'
Eddie Lynam also registered a brace. The 111 and a half to one two-timer came with Herbert Crescent (Shane Gorey) in the nursery and Scootch (Declan McDonogh) in the 3 & 4yo maiden.
From the family of Coventry Stakes winner, Verglas and smart sprinter Cassandra Go, Sheer Silk, a 7,000 guineas yearling, deservedly got off the mark in the 1.45.
A half-sister to Prima Luce, a 2yo winner this term, Sheer Silk got up in the last strides under Paul Townend to beat Newparks Doughter by a neck.
Drizzling rain saw a going change from yielding to soft after the first and trainer Charles O'Brien saw that as crucial. He hopes to find a seven furlong h'cap for his charge before season's end.
