Cruzpiel earns St Leger date

Racing Fairyhouse reportCruzspiel earned a possible crack at the St Leger at Doncaster next month when just holding on to claim the Listed Kilsaran Concrete Ballycullen Stakes at Fairyhouse yesterday.

Enterprisingly ridden by Fran Berry, the 4 to 1 chance kept finding that little bit extra in the home straight when tackled by a succession of challengers. The last and most dangerous of them was the 14 to 1 chance Golly Gosh, who only went down by the minimum margin.

"He stays so well we had no option but to make the running, although he can be a bit lazy in front," said trainer John Oxx. "Fast ground is the key to him and he is a possible for the St Leger, though he would be up against it at Doncaster."

Lone British challenger Foreign Affairs, who had been disputing the lead most of the way with the winner, weakened approaching the final furlong and was subsequently reported to be lame, according to a representative of trainer Sir Mark Prescott.

Fran Berry's victory on Cruzspiel came at a price, however, as the jockey was given a one-day suspension (September 3rd at Limerick) for using his whip excessively.

Riding honours were shared, with a double apiece for former champion jockey Pat Smullen and 22-year-old apprentice Jerry O'Dwyer, who had never previously achieved the feat.

Smullen was on the mark for the Dermot Weld stable with Sheltingham (2 to 1) and Hazelhatch (11 to 8), while O'Dwyer scored in handicaps on the top weights Southern Bound (8 to 1) and Keen Look (13 to 2).

The famous white and red spotted colours of the Late Senator JJ Parkinson were carried to victory for the first time in three quarters of a century by the Jessica Harrington-trained Moscow Court in the Mitchelstown Maiden Hurdle at Cork yesterday.

The colours are now held by his Kildare-based grandson and namesake who is actually on the board of Independent Newspapers.