Going - Round: good. Sprint: good, good to firm in places. Fine
Jackpot Pool - 841.90 Dividend - 397.20 Winning Units - 1.49. Placepot Pool - 22,620.74 Dividend - 7.90 Winning Units - 1985.12. Days Aggregate - 156,741.20 (7 races). Last Year 113,884.47 (8 races).
Baby Basma makes winning debut for O'Neill at Cork
I'm delighted and Colin said she was just a bit frightened when she came out of the stalls but then she settled grand. We thought Mr Bolger's (Slaney View) would go on and lead and our filly slotted in behind. She had been working brilliantly with nice horses at home and for what she was doing at home as a two-year-old, I was fairly confident. The obvious next place is at Naas on May 18 (Coolmore Juvenile Fillies Sprint) or the Marygate Fillies' Stakes at York, so I'll chat with the boss and see what he says.
Stack's Bear justifies favouritism under Heffernan
He didn't get seven furlongs last year so rather than trying to stretch him out, we decided to keep sprinting. We'll see what Mr O'Gorman's (handicapper) opinion is and there's a Premier Handicap at Naas before the Punchestown festival and a Listed race at Navan for him, hopefully he will make into that level. He won on easyish ground at Navan but wouldn't want soft.
Saratoga Special scores maiden success
she deserved that and has got stronger this year. We are happy with her although Shane said she was very keen in the early stages. He’d have forgiven her being beaten as she was so keen but was fresh and well. If there is a good pace she could stay six furlongs and we’ll look forward to a nice year. She’ll come back here for the Polonia Stakes next month.
Lady With The Lamp lands Listed prize under McDonogh
Bubble Gum makes winning Irish debut in Noblesse Stakes
Australian Bloodstock won the Melbourne Cup (in 2014) with Protectionist and Ronald Raucher is their racing manager and buys their horses. They have dreams of winning Melbourne Cups and such, so hopefully we can facilitate them in whatever they want to do. She is a lovely filly and Ronald, who lives in Doneraile, rang me in November and said he had a filly which might suit me. She hasn't missed a beat since she came to me in December, has trained well and I'm delighted to have her. I also had Purple Lily and Beechwood for this race but thought this filly would be the most adaptable as the others would like an ease. It is good to have a strong squad of fillies and this filly has a bit of class. She is a Stakes winner now and we'll find a Group race next.
Saint Brandon scores for Lupini and Leonard
Experience counts as Bella Isabella wins finale for Weld
It was a nice performance, she was very pleasing and Chris was very happy with her. She showed a very willing attitude and I thought she won nicely at the line. She is from a great family which we know like the back of our hands and it goes back a long way now. We'll see where she fits in as the season progresses and look for a winners' race next.