Balmont Mast put in a scorching performance under an ice-cool Johnny Murtagh at Dundalk© Photo Healy Racing
The formscan on this website hailed Johnny Murtagh as the master of Dundalk in advance of his ride on Balmont Mast in the Listed Mercury Stakes. Well the son of the neighbouring County of Meath certainly emphasised his greatness at Dundalk when landing the valuable prize on Eddie Lynam's charge.
Third here a year ago behind Nocturnal Affair (he secured the silver medal position on this occasion) Balmont Mast looked like he'd have to settle for minor honours again for much of the 2012 renewal.
However with a fast and furious pace up front, the ones coming from off the speed were always likely to have a say at the finish.
Cool as ever, Murtagh engineered a split on the well-backed Balmont Mast (11/2 this morning into 7/2) inside the last and he came home strongly to win by a length.
Reggie Roberts' Timeless Call ran a stormer and she was only mown down late, ending up in third, whilst the formerly top-class Starspangledbanner showed plenty of zip but he had no more to offer in the final furlong and finished fourth.
Eddie Lynam trains Balmont Mast for Derek Iceton of Tara Stud, the part winning breeder of the four-year-old and he said: "I see he is after peeing all over Sole Power's course record here (Balmont Mast clocked 57.35, shaving 0.11 off the previous T.R. at the venue).
"He's a good horse and he'll go to Dubai. I see the handicap ratings went out the window – that's a shock.
"He's in the Golden Rose in Lingfield (Listed event over six furlongs on November 17th) in a few weeks and we'll see about that."
Meanwhile Aidan O'Brien was satisfied with Starspangledbanner's effort, remarking: "He's been running on bad ground and he needed that run. It should leave him spot-on for the Breeders Cup Sprint.
"He had a bad draw there too."
It later transpired that Balmont Mast was slightly lame behind back at the stable yard and connections are hoping that it's nothing more than a pulled muscle. (AM & EM)
