Record Tuesday Evening Attendance At Galway Mick Halford's Quinmaster put up an impressive front-running performance when making virtually every yard of the running to land the featured Tote Galway Mile European Breeders Fund Handicap in front a record-breaking Tuesday evening crowd of 27,685. Expertly handled by Johnny Murtagh, the 8/1 winner had his rivals on the stretch from an early stage in this ?150,000 Premier Handicap with the Bill Durkan-owned four-year-old eventually proving two and a half lengths to strong for Dermot Weld's 3/1 favourite, Absolute Image. Curragh-based Halford, who was recording his first success in what was formerly the McDonogh Handicap, observed: 'It's a great race to win and he's a horse that's on the upgrade. We gelded him after his run in the Lincoln in the spring and he has been working well of late. He won well at the Curragh last time and Johnny (Murtagh) gave him a terrific ride in front. Today was the plan!' Winning rider Murtagh was equally impressed. He said: 'We made almost all and he quickened up two out. He's won really easily in the end.' Dermot Weld, who saddled the runner-up in the big race, has swift compensation as his 2/7 favourite, Supposition, turned the next contest, the Tote Exacta Fillies Maiden into a procession. Pat Smullen always had the daughter of Dansli handy and she quickened up in great style to slam Danapali (Niall McCullagh) by seven lengths. Weld, fresh from an opening evening hat-trick, commented: 'She's a sweet filly and it's nice to see her owner Khalid Abdullah's colours carried to success west of the Shannon. She'll be stepped up to stakes class now. Former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds was joined in the winner's enclosure by current office holder Bertie Ahern after the horse he part-owns, Sorry Al, came out the right side of a thrilling battle with the front-running Pharviva in the two and three-quarter mile McDonogh Properties Chase. The 7/2 winner, who carries the silks of the T&C Syndicate that includes Fine Gael T.D. Sean Barrett, is trained by former champion jockey, Charlie Swan. He revealed: 'This place really lights up this horse and he loves that good ground. He's in again later in the week, but we'll probably take our time with him.' A delighted Reynolds explained: 'He won over hurdles here last September but I couldn't be here as my daughter was getting married. Charlie (Swan) told me not to worry, he´d had have him ready for the Summer Festival and he was dead right.' Athenry-born Pat Fahy, now training in Co Carlow, has a strong team of horses listed for duty this week, and he tasted success in the opening Tote.ie Online Betting Maiden Hurdle when Arc Lemanique, ridden by fellow Galwegian Adrian Lane, beat Balakan(Barry Geraghty) by two and a half lengths. The 14/1 chance went for home half a mile out before battling on bravely in the closing stages to land the spoils. Fahy commented: 'It's always nice to win at my local track and particularly so at the Festival. We decieded to force the issue today and those tactics paid off. He's in a novice hurdle here on Thursday, but we'll have to wait and see how he is after this.' Dermot Weld's 3/1 favourite, Dasher Reilly, was a major disappointment when a distant sixth in this contest, but he was later found to have a respiratory tract infection. Willie Mullins opened his account for the week as Diego Garcia put up a fine weight carrying performance when shouldering top-weight to success under Davy Condon in the two-mile Tote Jackpot Handicap. The Sri Pekan gelding, who carries the colours of John Brennan, had three lengths to spare over Kevin Manning's mount, Grand Revival, at the line. 'That was super,' declared Mullins, adding 'It's taken him a while to come to himself and we'll mix it with him over hurdles and the flat. He'll go over fences in the autumn.' Robbie Osborne, successful in last year's McDonagh Handicap with Latino Magic, tasted success when his 16/1 shot Moon At Midnight, owned by his mother Joan, battled bravely for Robbie Burke to beat fellow outsider Marias Dream by three parts of a length in the seven-furlong Tote Trio Handicap. Luke Comer's Yellowridge, fourth in handicap over the course on Monday, made a quick return to action when providing Brazilian rider Franco Da Silva with his first win in this country when springing a 20/1 shock in concluding Tote European Breeders Fund Maiden. Attendance 2006: 26,6852005: 24,756 Tote2006: 1,198,9962005: 1,135,234 Bookmakers 2006: 3,186,4662005: 2,561,457
