Some horses change careers and Shantarini could be the one that launches Shane Donohoe's. The 29-year-old trains less than 10 horses at the Fairtown Stud outside Cavan town but after Shantarini's victory in last night's GPT Handicap at Galway, the Donohoe family are in line for a £20,000 bonus if the grey also wins Thursday's Galway Hurdle.
"Maybe we'll get a few more horses to train after winning a race like this. I've only seven or eight but anyone can train a good horse and every trainer needs a horse like this," said Donohoe who trains Shantarini for his mother, Eilish.
Donohoe rode less than 30 winners in a relatively undistinguished career as a jockey but received a grounding in the training craft before taking out a licence himself four years ago.
After working for Jim Bolger, John Edwards and as head lad for Paul Nicholls, Donohoe returned home and was full of praise for his wife, Samantha, and father, George, who bought Shantarini out of John Oxx's yard.
"My Dad has put a lot into the game and my wife is a workaholic so I'm thrilled for them. This horse is very tough and classy and is a pleasure to have around," Donohoe said.
Shantarini, who won as a two-year-old for Oxx, was the only horse last night who kept tabs on the pacemaking Iron County Xmas who also had to contend with bridle problems. Alan Dempsey (21) kicked Shantarini clear coming down the hill and although Try For Ever made a game effort to catch him, Shantarini held on up the hill by two lengths.
"Myself, Alan and Kieran Gaule walked the track before racing and were delighted with the ground. Please God we can come back here and do the same on Thursday," Donohoe added.
The fate of Saving Bond in the GPT reflected the fate of the evening's favourites generally.
The odds-on Immovable Option looked sure to continue Dermot Weld's superb record in the seven furlong maiden when joining Windward Rock in the straight but the favourite found disappointingly little and was run out of it by his persistent rival.
"The hill finds them out and the winner battled well," said Weld, while Windward Rock's trainer, John Oxx, said: "He's a good tough horse who battled well and could go for something like the Tyros Stakes. From the cheers, it sounds like the favourite was too short for many!"
It was Oxx who supplied the well-backed favourite for the 12furlong handicap but Chalna was beaten before the straight as Shalazar, winner of a Killarney claimer last time out, kept up a sustained gallop to beat Say Wonderful by four lengths.
"There'll be a lot of people kicking themselves that they didn't claim him," grinned trainer John Hayden who was saddling his second Galway Festival winner. Shalazar could go for the Listed Oyster Stakes here in September before starting a new career over hurdles.
Weld, however, did get on the mark when the top-weight, Social Graces, came from an apparently impossible position to catch Early Fin in the closing stages of the mile handicap. Social Graces is one of two horses Weld trains for Beijing owner Kak Yiu.
Another market leader to bite the dust was Its Time For A Win who appeared not to care too much about what his name was suggesting in the opening maiden hurdle and was touched off by Ratoath Gale. It was a perfect return from injury for Paul Carberry who broke his left leg in early May.
Amy Johnson took the handicap hurdle while the fate of the last favourite, Dustin in the bumper, was sealed a long way out as Mona Day won under Peter Fahey.
Neil Callan lost his right to claim 7lb when winning on Suite Factors at Folkestone yesterday and clinched a double when he scored on Tornado Prince in the closing Letheby and Christopher Handicap, winning by five lengths at 4 to 6 favourite.
