Bogardus (left) under Gary Halpin beating Calorie© Photo Healy Racing
Bogardus made it three winners in less than 24 hours for Curragh trainer Patrick Prendergast when justifying evens favouritism in the Amanda Brunker Judges Littlewoods Ireland Ladies Day Rated Race at Wexford.
Just three went to post for this extended mile event and the market proved a good guide as the winner and Calorie (5/4) dominated proceedings in the straight.
Gary Halpin, who has struck up a good association with the John Oxx stable recently and was recording his fourth winner in the past 12 days here, was at pains to get the Dalakhani gelding to the front and really drove his mount along in the early stages.
However he travelled a lot more smoothly in the closing stages, and Halpin just needed to push out with hands and heels to beat his market rival by a cosy neck. Princess Tamay was all of 12 lengths back in third.
Windward Passage and Manalapan completed a double for the stable in the final two races at Down Royal yesterday evening and Prendergast said, "It's been a good weekend! With Gary’s claim he was 15lb better off with Calorie.
“That trip was on the sharp side for him and that’s why we made all. He is a better horse on the all-weather but listen I’m delighted he broke his maiden. Gary gave him a clever ride and he is full of confidence after riding three winners for John Oxx, and Kevin (Prendergast) rates him well.
“It’s great to have three winners with my last three runners. I’ve 18 horses in the yard at the moment and how come I’m finding these three runner races and the fellas with 200 horses aren’t!
“A couple of jump boys are after him, he jumps a pole well but I haven’t jumped a hurdle with him yet. He will win on the all-weather and is a better horse on the all-weather according to Gary O’Gorman. I think he is 77 on the all-weather and 70 on turf."
(Additional reporting by Donal Murphy)
