There may have been plenty of non-runners at Fairyhouse due to the firm ground last evening but for Curragh trainer Jeremy Harley the blistering fast conditions was music to his ears after Count On Us made a winning debut over hurdles in the Asbourne Novice Hurdle.
'I've written numerous letters to several racecourses asking them not to water the ground over the years as there are horses who prefer it and it's not fair to those horses. All the best horses around the world race on very fast ground and after all we do have the best grass in this country,' said Harley, after his easy-to-back 6/1 chance toyed with the opposition and, despite a slow leap at the last, still won with a bit in hand under Barry Geraghty.
'He is rated 95 on the flat and I would like to run him in a Listed race to see how he gets on but before that he'll probably run at Tipperary in a winners race over hurdles. He's still a baby but I hope he's a racehorse,' concluded Harley.
The Curragh trainer completed a memorable evening at the Ratoath venue when Gers Gold finished with a wet sail inside under Pat Cosgrave to head Euro friendly in the dying strides of the first division of the Monard Handicap over seven furlongs.
'ITM (Irish Thoroughbred Marketing) helped me set up this syndicate as the horse is leased by me to the Gers Gold Syndicate comprising a good few foreign members,' said Harley, after he completed his 55/1 mixed double.
Ballydoyle unveiled another Royal Ascot candidate in the shape of winning newcomer Johannesburg who, despite running very green throughout, drew steadily clear from the two furlong pole to provide Mick Kinane with his 20th success of the current campaign.
In a night when the layers enjoyed the better of the exchanges 12/1 shot Baku and Mark Flanagan carried the colours of Dunnes Stores supremo Margaret Heffernan to victory in the nine furlong Garristown Handicap. Andrew Heffernan, husband of the winning owner, said, 'I must compliment Mark (Flanagan) as his assessment after Killarney was to step him up in trip and it worked.'
Con Collins provided the winner of the twelve furlong maiden with newcomer Lanquani after which his daughter Tracy revealed, 'That will give dad a lift. His diabetes went through the roof and he was in hospital for a while but I'm glad to say he's at home again and resting.'
Racing concluded with Simply Honest and Tony Martin romping home hard held to record his third bumper success with the minimum of fuss.
BF
