Trebles for Doyle & James at Ballinaboola Wexford natives dominated proceedings at Ballinaboola point-to-point on Sunday, with Rob James and Sean Doyle both helping themselves to trebles. James initiated his three-timer in the opening contest on the card, the Englishsfruitnurseries.ie 4yo Maiden, guiding newcomer Dorydalis to a half length success. Trained by Pat Doyle and owned by Gigginstown House Stud, the son of Saddler Maker made good progress in the straight and came through to lead before the last. He made a mistake at that obstacle, and needed to be ridden out on the run-in to see off Frozen Fire by half a length. "I got in a bit tight at the last, but he picked up well and went on to the line," the winning rider disclosed. "He travelled too strong today, and they weren't going hard enough for him. I rode him before and he is a good horse, he will win lots of good races." James doubled-up aboard Small Farm in the Tattersalls Maiden Race for 5yo Geldings, the first of three winners for Sean Doyle. This son of Westerner was sent off an odds-on chance on his debut, and he made all, just holding off the late surge of Double Portrait by a neck. "He is a powerful big horse," Doyle remarked. "We bought him off the Latta family last year at the Derby Sale, we paid E65,000 for him, that would be a little bit over our budget but I just loved him the minute I saw him. "He is a full-brother Stilletto who was shaping up to be a real nice chaser but unfortunately he got killed. I think the world of this lad. Rob said he was just doing enough up to the line, and that he had loads left." Monbeg Zena is another well-bred sort, and she completed the treble for James, in the Gain Maiden Race for 5 & 6yo Mares. As was the case in the previous contest, this Sean Doyle trained chestnut also went off a well-supported odds-on chance. Settled off the pace, she took closer order from the fifth last and hit the front in the straight, keeping on well under pressure from the last, going on to prevail by four lengths on her first career start. The winning handler said in the aftermath: "I think the world of her. She has loads and loads of ability. "Time pays off as we schooled these two (Small Farm and Monbeg Zena) this day last year after Oldtown. Rob (James) rode her that day and he said she's a big baby and to give her loads of time. "The year went by quick and I think there is big days to come with this one. She is a mare that doesn't do too much at home, but she is always there at the end of a piece of work and I really love her. "She is real well-related, she is a full-sister to Sizing Gold and her 3yo full-brother made 100,000 sterling at the Doncaster Sales a couple of weeks ago." Fightfirewithfire completed the treble for Doyle, with his youngest brother Gearoid recording his first success aboard this son of Firebreak. Debutant Burning Ambition was sent off favourite for this contest, but he couldn't reel-in the winner from the last, with two lengths separating them at the line. "Gearoid (17) is the baby of nine and that's his first winner. We are absolutely delighted with that, it has been a great day,” Sean Doyle commented. "He is a great chap and is still in school in FCJ Bunclody, doing his leaving cert this year. He loves the horses and is a great chap to work. I'm thrilled that he got off the mark today. "We thought plenty of this horse as a four-year-old but he got a little injury after his first run. Our good neighbour Jay Kavanagh then looked after him for a year and done everything right with him. He will go for a winners race now and he could be on the up."
