Having broken his Group One duck in Sunday's Moyglare, Pat Smullen kept on the black type trail when guiding the Aga Khan's Aliya to an all the way victory in the yesterday's listed Ardilaun House Oyster Stakes at Galway. The competitive edge of the 12-furlong event looked to have been blunted when the likely favourite Stage Affair pulled out stiff in the morning and was withdrawn, along with the fillies French Ballerina and Spirit Of Tara who were found to be in season.
However, the final pull up the Galway hill put the lie to that as Aliya responded gallantly to Smullen's rhythmic driving to hold off stablemate Vivo by threeparts of a length, with the topweight, Mohaajir, third.
Aliya was winner number 37 of the year for Smullen but his first Oyster win. The same comment definitely doesn't apply to John Oxx who is finding the event a lucky race, Aliya winning it for him for the fourth time.
Ebaziya was Oxx's first winner and went to become the dam of Ebadiyla; Russian Snows improved to win over the Arc weekend two years ago and last year's winner, Predappio, won the Hardwicke at Ascot in June. Aliya is now on target to add to that roll of honour.
"She's terrific, very, very game," Oxx enthused. "I thought she wouldn't win over this trip and on this ground today but she is improving. If it's soft she could go for the Prix du Lutece over a mile and seven at Longchamp," he added.
Risk Material lost nothing in comparison to Aliya in terms of courage when he made it four out of four by defying 10st 1lb by a head from Kalagold in the Donnellys Nursery. Christy Roche was hard at work on the turn in as Risk Material fought the weight as well as the opposition but Kalagold could never get by.
"He's tough isn't he," grinned Roche. "He's a Group Two horse now and would beat all the listed ones a long way at the moment."
There was post race kick for Kalagold's rider Willie Supple who received a four-day ban for using his whip with excessive force and frequency and there had been a pre-race incident too with a false start.
Noel Meade saddled two winners with Midnight Lover causing a 14 to 1 surprise in the Irish Shell Handicap and Try For Ever notching a sixth career win in the CT Electric Handicap Hurdle. Try For Ever was cantering all over her opposition on the run to the last but had to be rousted by Norman Williamson to hold Mister Chippy by half a length.
"I was a bit worried about the ground but the dryer it got the better. A flatter track would probably suit her more," Meade said.
Dance Design's half brother, Hibernian Rhapsody, made a winning debut from the other joint favourite, Dove Orchid, in the Long Walk Maiden and American owner Peter Thompson got a perfect birthday present when Bit O'Speed won the opening chase under Conor O'Dwyer.
