POWER PLAY, who finished full of running to take second place, five lengths adrift of the impressive Curragh winner, Truth Or Dare, less than two weeks ago, duly landed the odds in yesterday's Erin's Isle Race at Navan. However, he did not win as readily as his trainer John Oxx had anticipated and will need to show some more speed at home if he is to fulfill his intended engagement in the Hotel Conrad Stakes at the Curragh next time out.
"I'd like to have seen him win a bit easier but the race will bring him on. He ran the same race as at the Curragh where he came out of the pack to finish well. He is still pretty green and was off the bridle too far off. But he really needs a mile and a half," said Oxx of the lightly raced Sheikh Mohammed owned and bred Nashwan colt. Incidentally, Power Plays - was raised at Kildangan Stud with Saturday's 2,000 Guineas winner Mark Of Esteem.
Desert Mountain, a stable companion of Truth Or Dare, and Apache Twist disputed the lead up the straight, clear of Power Play who, however, picked up inside the distance and eventually won, ears pricked by a length from the Charles O'Brien trained Desert Mountain.
Jim Bolger introduced Irish John to win the Wilkinstown Maiden by a short head from Bob The Broker and, following a double at Limerick yesterday boosted his impressive early season tally to 18. While Irish John had little to spare he is highly thought of by his trainer who can see him attaining Group status. "He shouldn't be running over five furlongs. He will stay a mile," he said. The winner drifted from 5 to 2 to end up an 11 to 2 chance.
The Kevin Manning partnered winner, who made all the running, is owned in partnership by William J Condren and his breeder John Gaines. Condron is also part owner of the Kentucky Derby winner Strike The Gold while Gaines, the erstwhile owner of the famous Gainsway Farms Stud, is the brainchild of the Breeders Cup.
Fifteen years old Frank Berry rode his first winner in only four rides when driving home Loughmogue to win the 23 strong Dunsany Handicap. It was entirely appropriate that the filly is trained by the boy's father Frank, 10 times National Hunt champion and owned by his mother Claire. But it is now back to studies for young Frank who takes his junior certificate next month.
Loughmogue, who recently ran well to finish second at Tipperary, was formerly trained by Frank Berry's mentor Francis Flood to win her maiden at Galway in 1993 and a Curragh handicap the following year. Now back to her best after drawing a blank - last season she quickened well inside the distance to beat the staying Khambani by a length and a half.
Mark Dwyer landed the Bective Maiden Hurdle on the Michael Cunningham trained Corravoggy who pinged the last flight and ran on stoutly to beat Derby Haven. Dwyer will school the winner's illustrious stable companion Derrymoyle over fences this morning.
