Dunboyne teenager Padraig Beggy took the limelight at Down Royal on Saturday when partnering Green Lassy to land the E75,000 Specsavers Ulster Derby, the highlight of a first double for the apprentice.
The Ger Lyons-trained four-year-old filly, who is in foal to dual Derby winner High Chaparral, came from nearly last to first in the straight after King Carew had set a furious early pace. Cloone River, the 7/2 favourite, and Theme Song appeared set to battle it out until Beggy produced Green Lassy with a sustained challenge to beat the favourite by two lengths, with Theme Song the same distance back in third.
'Padraig is as good a seven pounds claimer as there is in the country, and this filly is off to the paddocks now on a high. It's not my style to run one from 5lb out of the handicap but it was worth a go at a big pot,' said Lyons.
Beggy (18) is now on the ten winner mark having earlier landed the sprint handicap aboard Tubbertown Rose. 'We weren't going to run her on this ground but after a few showers we decided to let her take her chance. She nearly slipped up at Ballinrobe last time,' said in-form trainer Peter Casey after his charge edged out After Shock by a head.
Diego Dias, who has ridden 96 winners in his native Brazil, opened his Irish account when Elva Express just held off the patiently ridden top-weight Victram in the mile and a half handicap. Dias, 22, arrived here 18 months ago and is based in Clare with successful trainer Joseph Quinn.
Former champion apprentice Tadgh O'Shea was also in double form on handicappers Idle Journey and Tara's Gift in the main supporting event, the EBF Coolmore Stud Ulster Oaks Fillies Handicap. Tara's Gift, who also landed this race last year, was prominent throughout and headed front-runner Somethingforsunday well inside the final furlong.
Idle Journey landed a touch (20/1 to 10/1) for connections in the seven furlongs handicap, leading over a quarter of a mile out and keeping on gamely for O'Shea to beat the staying on Urban Dream by a length and a half. 'He missed the break at Cork last time, and he wore a tongue tie there that might have upset him in the stalls,' said trainer Dick Donohoe, who was enjoying his first winner at the track.
Midnight Grace, who shared the honours in a controversial dead-heat at Cork last Sunday, made no mistake by following up at long odds-on in the two-year-old auction race. Pat Smullen's mount held off the strong late challenge of newcomer Rare Cross by a length, and trainer Frances Crowley said afterwards, 'It came a bit quick for her after last Sunday but it was a good opportunity with the field cutting up so much. She will go now for either a nursery or a fillies Listed race, and it would be nice to get her some black type.'
Alan Magee
