Horse Racing: Paul Carberry took the riding honours at Sligo yesterday, partnering an 8 to 1 double on Hawaiian Son and Fairy Secret.
Hawaiian Son was installed the evens favourite for the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle, and Noel Meade's charge gave supporters their only anxious moment when blundering at the last. However, Carberry held the gelding together to deny My Lucky Rose by three-quarters of a length.
The reigning champion followed up half an hour later in the handicap hurdle when producing Fairy Secret with a well-timed challenge at the last to touch off morning price gamble Casa Que Canta (7 to 1 to 3 to 1 fav) by a head.
Local trainer Michael McElhone put a disappointing evening here on Wednesday behind him when saddling Dr Knock to justify favouritism in the apprentice handicap. The five-year-old gelding is obviously an adaptable sort ground wise as he won this race last year on heavy, and led over half a mile out to beat One For The Money by three and a half lengths.
Chris Geoghegan (17) was again seen to good effect partnering his third winner here, and his claim is now reduced from 10lb to 7lb. "I had a bad day yesterday with one climbing out over the stalls, another running away and another just running poorly. It's a relief to win," said McElhone.
Moscow Ballet looks a horse with a bright future after the Aidan O'Brien-trained colt won a two-year-old conditions race at Tipperary last night.
The son of Sadler's Wells had three lengths to find on Favourite Nation inside the final furlong but Michael Kinane's mount produced a stunning late burst to get to the front in the final strides and win by a short head.
"We've always liked him and he works like a good horse. He showed a great will to win today and we'll step him up to a listed or winners' race next," said O'Brien.
Grimes made his first visit to the winner's enclosure since landing the 2001 Galway Plate, when he ran out a four-length winner of the August Chase under Conor O'Dwyer. The 1 to 6 shot will now be considered for next month's Kerry National.
Charlie Swan was also on the mark for McManus when he saddled Colonel Bradley to win the Railway Handicap Chase by two and a half lengths from Kergaul. Following this race both the fences in the back straight were omitted in the interests of safety.
John Oxx and Johnny Murtagh's domination of the three-year-old maiden scene continued as Seeking Bellissimo ran out a comfortable winner of the opening Ashtown Maiden.
