An attendance of 5,006 turned out for the first Saturday evening meeting of the year at Leopardstown, with Perfect Touch graduating from handicap company to land a gamble in the featured Irish Stallion Farms EBF Brownstown Stakes.
The crowd figure, down 1,333 on the corresponding meeting last year, was obviously greatly effected by the big match at Croke Park and a concert in the Phoenix Park.
Perfect Touch, trained by Dermot Weld for his mother Geta, was backed from 8/1 down to 9/2 in this seven furlongs Group 3 race and showed a nice turn of foot at the furlong pole to beat Irresistible by three and a half lengths.
The Rosewell House trainer was in California supervising Dimitrova's bid for the American Oaks at Hollywood Park but his son Mark said, 'She was starting to come in season when second at the Curragh last Saturday, and will be a valuable addition to our group of broodmares.'
Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning took the opening two races on the card with Acciacatura and Bon Expresso. Acciacatura put up a game front-running performance in the two-year-old maiden, rallying strongly on the far rail when challenged by Tumblebrutus in the straight to prevail by the minimum margin. 'She battled really well, and we will try to upgrade her now possibly in a Listed race,' said Bolger.
Bon Expresso landed the odds in convincing fashion half-an-hour later in the seven furlongs maiden, travelling well to lead over a furlong out for a length victory over Hazelhatch. 'She will go for a Group race in a few weeks time, and will stay a mile although I'm not sure if she'll want any more than that. She's bred to stay further but is pacey,' said the Coolcullen handler.
Inishmot Lady repeated her win of last year in the seven furlongs handicap, coming from well off the pace under Cathy Gannon and leading a furlong out to beat Jumbo Romance by two lengths. 'The strongly run race suited her and she's best fresh, so we'll give her a few weeks before finding another handicap,' said Tom McCourt, who has 30 in training near Stamullen. The five-year-old mare drifted left after striking the front, and Gannon was cautioned for careless riding.
Pepperwood justified favouritism in the nine furlongs handicap, with Fran Berry sending the Barouche Stud's home-bred colt clear inside the final quarter mile to beat Shersha by a comfortable two and a half lengths. 'He's improving all the time and enjoys a little dig in the ground. He should get a bit further, and i'm sure the owners would like him to get some black type,' said trainer John Oxx.
Alan Magee
