RACING:GALWAY FESTIVAL: Dermot Weld took his final haul at the seven-day festival to 17 winners when Comedic Art, his last runner of the week, was a smooth scorer in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Smashing his previous best of 11 last year, the Rosewell House maestro missed his last winner of the week as he was in Germany for Famous Name’s unsuccessful attempt to gain an elusive Group One triumph.
With 5lb claimer Leigh Roche having taken over from stable jockey Pat Smullen, who was also on duty in Munich, it was a routine victory.
Taking over from Jazz Girl on the home turn, the 13 to 8 favourite forged clear to score by three lengths, with Landenstown Lady taking second ahead of the long-time leader.
The feature race on day seven, the Connacht Tribune Handicap Chase, was won by John “Shark” Hanlon’s Galway regular Truckers Delight.
An unlucky fourth on Tuesday, he ended a frustrating week for his trainer with a five-and-a- half-length verdict over Norther Bay.
“Thank goodness for that after the week we have had. He always pulls it out of the fire for us,” said a relieved Hanlon.
“He is a real Festival-meeting horse. He was unlucky on Tuesday. I am so delighted to have at least a winner as I thought I was going to have a good week. I thought he would win twice, but he was unlucky the first day.”
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CORK: Alanza finished with a flourish to snatch the Platinum Stakes from Wild Wind close home at Cork. Niall McCullagh got a tremendous run out of the lightly-raced John Oxx-trained filly in the final furlong of this Listed prize.
The 5 to 2 joint-favourite stormed ahead of Aidan O’Brien’s charge to win by three-quarters of a length, with Hujaylea another half a length away third after Wild Wind’s stablemate Eirnin had made the running.
Oxx said: “Alanza stayed well. We thought seven furlongs was her trip but it looks like a mile or further is the best distance. She ran twice this year over six furlongs and it helped to settle her down.
“We were going to go to the Fairy Bridge Stakes at Tipperary over seven and a half furlongs but we’ll see. Maybe she wants farther.”
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FRANCE: Goldikova took her winning tally at the highest level to 14 when landing the Prix Rothschild at Deauville for the fourth successive year.
Olivier Peslier had the cheek to ease down the Freddie Head-trained six-year-old in the dying strides after putting the race to bed a furlong out.
Sahpresa stayed on well for second, but was flattered by her proximity to the winner.
Timepiece, trained by Henry Cecil and ridden by Tom Queally, was a creditable third behind the French wondermare.
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GOODWOOD: Hoof It looks set to be supplemented for the Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes following his record weight-carrying performance in the Blue Square Stewards’ Cup.
Golf agent Andrew “Chubby” Chandler, who co-owns the speedster with Lee Westwood, is keen on a shot at the big time as long as the horse shows no ill-effects from his Goodwood exertions.
Chandler and trainer Mick Easterby are to discuss whether to stump up €23,000 to add Hoof It to the field for the Group One at York on August 19th.
Connections are leaning towards pitching the four-year-old in at the highest level after he defied a 6lb penalty to carry 10st.
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