Camakasi and Shane Foley leave Witty Repartee and Chris Hayes in their wake© Photo Healy Racing
There haven't been too many reverses lately for Michael Halford and Shane Foley and the pair bounced back from Dalewari s neck defeat, as the even money favourite in the previous heat, as Camakasi scored in the Follow Dundalk On Facebook Maiden.
On start number eleven Camakasi overcame the inconvenience of again missing the break to eventually comprehensively see off the well-supported favourite Witty Repartee by three and three parts of a length.
Sadly the second market choice Dash suffered a fatal injury and she was pulled up by Billy Lee over four furlongs out.
"It's a shame about Dash. When you see a horse fatally injured it takes the gloss off.
"He was due a turn – if we could only get him to jump out of the stalls – but they went hard here and it suited him.
"Shane is riding super and the horses are in great form," commented Halford.
Successful owner Terry McDonald was striking at the first attempt with an inmate at the Halford yard. He's had horses elsewhere before.
The Stewards enquired into the running and riding of Naughty But Nice placed fifth, ridden by F.M. Berry, and trained by Charles O'Brien. Evidence was heard from the rider and the authorised
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representative of the trainer concerned, Mr. Gerry Abbott.
F.M. Berry stated that his instructions were to try get the filly to jump well, get into a nice rhythm and do his best from there. He stated that his mount was unable to go the quick early pace, ran green throughout, was disadvantaged by the bad kickback, lost ground at the end of the back straight avoiding a horse that pulled up suddenly, hung left thereafter but stayed on up the home straight past beaten horses. He added that his mount would benefit from a step up in trip in future, and may not have handled the surface, and would recommend to the trainer not to run her again at Dundalk.
Gerry Abbott confirmed the instructions and stated that he was satisfied with the ride considering the way the race developed, that being the frantic early pace, and having to avoid the horse that pulled up suddenly.
The Stewards also received a report from the Turf Club Veterinary Officer who stated that Naughty But Nice was Post Race Normal.
Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards noted the explanations offered and reminded F.M Berry to report in the first instance anything which may have had an effect on his horse's running.
C.T. Keane, rider of Grey Is Da Colour trained by C.Byrnes, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount was outpaced early, stayed on past beaten horses late and would benefit from a step up in trip in future.
(MG & EM)
