The Offaly colours were carried to a rare success at Limerick today when Tom Hogan's Rosnagowloge provided owner John Carroll with another success in his native county's colours.
Barry Geraghty's mount, successful at this venue earlier in the month, showed good battling qualities and went clear of his eight rivals before the second last flight. A bold leap at the final flight helped Rosnagowloge to a six length win.
Hogan later stated 'he'll go for a conditions' hurdle at Galway next' while the delighted owner mentioned that the winning trainer 'is not too bad at training either!'
The opening seven furlong maiden saw another juvenile winner from the David Wachman yard with 4/7 favourite Showbiz holding off the challenge of Saoire by three parts of a length.
Afterwards Wachman reported 'that looked quite a decent maiden and we will now try to gain some blacktype for Showbiz. She wouldn't want the ground any faster than that.'
Trainer Mark Loughnane set his stall out at the Galway Festival two years ago, where he trained two winners, and now has another Festival contender on his hands, following the success of Karramalu in the www.limerick-racecourse.com Handicap. Jockey Tadhg O'Shea was hard at work on the filly early in the straight but gradually picked off her rivals to lead inside the final furlong.
Loughnane later reported 'she was unlucky here the last day when she met traffic problems. She will run at Galway one of the days and my horses seem to be in fine form'
Jim Bolger's Mrs Gillow won the SAP Landscapes Handicap under stable jockey Kevin Manning. Bolger was absent but was represented by Ger Flynn who mentioned 'she will now go for a similar handicap at Galway.'
'Galway' seems to be the most commonly used word in winner's enclosures at the moment and Gerard O'Leary's Big King is another with a Festival target, following his win in the 2m4f maiden hurdle. According to O'Leary 'he will go for a handicap there next weekend and he will then go chasing.'
Amateur Roger Loughran is excellent value for his five pound claim and rode Tom McCourt's Casadei to win the Limerick Live 95FM Breakfast Show Handicap Hurdle while Glenbane Lady landed the concluding bumper under Gareth Power.
Thomas Weekes.
