Blatant, a costly failure at Galway before opening his account at Naas earlier this month, powered home in emphatic fashion under John Murtagh to take the featured Carlsberg Ruby Stakes for Curragh trainer John Oxx on the second day of the Tralee Festival yesterday.
Murtagh, who half-an-hour earlier justified favouritism aboard stable companion Adalar in the Paddy Norris Maiden, always had the Machiavellian colt in the chasing pack close to the pace until he forged to the front with the minimum of fuss after rounding the home turn.
Once Murtagh pressed the button early in the straight the response was instant as the John Oxx inmate drew steadily clear to slam Maumee by four lengths with the fast finishing Aquila Oculus back in third.
The winner, sent off the 11/2 favourite after touching 13/2 in places, is owned by Sheikh Mohammad but actually carried the colours of the Aga Khan en route to his facile victory. The reason for such a colour change was the fact that Catherine Gannon, who was wearing the only set of Sheikh Mohammad colours on course, was taken to nearby Tralee General Hospital after taking a tumble in the opener.
'We decided to keep it in house and got Johnny to wear the Aga Khan's colours for the race,' explained assistant Jim 'Slim' O'Neill before he outlined future plans.' I suppose we'll look for a Group race for him next. There is no doubt he's a very good horse and the Galway defeat was just one of those days.'
Catherine Gannon was taken to Tralee General Hospital after her mount Analyst clipped heels and slipped up approaching the seven furlong pole in the apprentice handicap won by Mick Halford's Golly Gosh, a first winner for Jerry O'Dwyer since breaking his wrist in Tipperary seven weeks ago.
'She is conscious and alert but was complaining of a pain at the back of her head so as a precaution we have sent her to the local hospital,' said on course Dr Buckley, who later announced that the Dublin-born apprentice had been stood down for 48 hours with slight concussion.
The Baltimore Man, winner of six races under both codes, was humanely destroyed after suffering a broken shoulder at the fifth fence in the Directors Beginners Chase won by market rival Theseus, trained by Pat Hughes.
After Barry Geraghty partnered the well-supported 7/2 shot (from 5's) to victory over Celtic Minstrel, Hughes indicated that the six-year-old would be heading for the Doncaster Sales next October.
Rose Of Tralee heroine Tamara Gervafoni (22) was on hand to present Jackie Bolger, wife of trainer Jim, with the winning trophy after Spectacular justified strong support in the first division of the Rose Of Tralee Handicap while recent Curragh scorer Peace Angel romped home in the second leg.
Noel Meade introduced a winning newcomer over hurdles in the shape of easy-to-back Lost In The Rain, who prevailed by a length over Askthejudge in the 3yo hurdle, while Slaney Fox scored for Jessica Harrington in the finale.
