Paul Carberry took the riding honours on the concluding session of the two day August meeting at Sligo when partnering an 8/1 double on Hawaiian Son and Fairy Secret.
Hawaiian Son was installed the evens favourite for the two and a half miles maiden hurdle, and Noel Meade's charge gave supporters their only anxious moment when blundered at the last. However Carberry remained supremely confident and held the gelding together to deny My Lucky Rose by three-quarters of a length.
The reigning champion followed up half-an-hour later in the handicap hurdle when producing Fairy Secret with a well-timed challenge at the last to touch off morning price gamble Casa Que Canta (7/1 to 3/1 fav) by a head.
Racegoers came out on top of the bookmakers on a beautiful afternoon, with odds-on chances Twice Royal and Raise A Native both scoring. Twice Royal (8/11 to 4/7) was all the rage in the juvenile claimer, and the Kevin Prendergast-trained filly bounced out of stalls to make all under Declan McDonogh. A couple of claims were put in for the winner, and connections needed to go to 15,000 euro (3,000 above the allotted weight price) to retain the filly.
Raise A Native was even shorter at 4/9 in the two miles maiden hurdle but stretched clear two out for Norman Williamson to beat Palace Storm by a facile 20 lengths.
Local trainer Michael McElhone put a disappointing evening here on Wednesday behind him when saddling Dr Knock to justify favouritism in the apprentice handicap. The five-year-old gelding is obviously an adaptable sort ground wise as he won this race last year on heavy, and led over half a mile out to beat One For The Money by three-and-a-half lengths. Chris Geoghegan (17) was again seen to good effect partnering his third winner here, and his claim is now reduced from 10lb to 7lb.
'I had a bad day yesterday with one climbing out over the stalls, another running away and another just running poorly. It's just a relief to win,' said McElhone, who was warmly congratulated by many racegoers afterwards.
Sophiyah, raised 9lb in future and so theoretically 'well in' with a 5lb mandatory penalty for winning at Galway last Saturday, followed up when making virtually all in the mile and three-quarters handicap. Davy Condon seized the initiative when driving Joanna Morgan's charge clear over half a mile out, and maintained the gallop to beat Mighty Minnow by seven lengths.
'We decided to run her back so quick as she's in such good form, and needs a little dig in the ground. If this weather keeps up it could be like a rock for a month,' said the in-form Meath handler.
Alan Magee
