Performance Review

September 2005

It was fantastic to have a strong start to the autumn window with four nice winners over the course of September.

I was delighted for the Probity Racing Syndicate to see Great Mover notch the first win of her career at Gowran Park. After knocking on the door at Naas on her previous start, she won very well under Megan Telford-Kelly, who gave her a lovely ride. I think the ease in the ground really suited her, and we’ll take a look at a mile handicap at the Curragh next month now, having got a 9lb hike to 76 for her win.

Great Mover's first win at Gowran Park

It looks like Navy Waters has a liking for Down Royal, winning for the second time there this season when coming out on top in a handicap over a mile and five furlongs. Nathan Crosse has been getting a good tune out of her and it was a great result for her owner-breeder Miceal Sammon, who knows this family very well. She’s paying her way with plenty of good runs through the year.

A second win for Navy Waters at Down Royal

We’ve had a nice bit of luck with the broodmare Bank On Black, and Amanda was a very happy owner-breeder after Love Bomb became another winner from the family in a five-furlong nursery at Down Royal. It was her first start in a nursery - and a race we had waited a while for - so I’m delighted it came off. This brought up a double on the card for us, and she was also Billy’s first winner since coming back from injury. It’s obviously great to have a rider of his ability back in action again.

A great win for Love Bomb at Down Royal

Another lovely homebred winner during the month was Winters Breath for Al Shira'aa Racing. She doesn’t have many miles on the clock and got up in just the nick of time under Dylan Browne McMonagle in a six-furlong fillies’ handicap at Cork. She can be a bit free but was very good that day and, if she can keep on the right path, I hope she’ll be able to build on this.

Winters Breath' first win at Cork

It was Counterculture’s first start after a little break when running very well to be second at Roscommon in a seven-and-a-half-furlong handicap. We ran her again at Punchestown later in the month but she got very upset in the stalls for whatever reason and didn’t give her true running. We’llbe trying to win one with her in the autumn, given how she loves an ease in the ground.

Coul Dreamer was another coming back from a bit of time off when runner-up in a maiden at Clonmel. He looked smart over hurdles last season and I’ll be keeping an eye out for a suitable opportunity on the flat again for him when the chance arises.

Maybe hitting the front a furlong down at the Curragh on a filly who hadn’t run since the previous December didn’t end up playing to Lunigiana’s strengths, but she still ran with credit in being beaten only a neck in a maiden over six furlongs. She’s been placed on seven of her nine starts, so here’s hoping we can get a winning bracket with her.

Sanctijude was only beaten half a length at Galway in a seven-furlong maiden, and I thought she was probably a bit unlucky when beaten a similar distance in a Curragh nursery on her last start. She might have ended up with a little too much to do, but it’s good to see her in the thick of things. Fingers crossed a first win can follow for her and the Deegans.

Finally, Mogwli probably bumped into one when second at Punchestown and was drawn very wide at Listowel on his next start in the month, but we know he loves Bellewstown and the plan is to go back there again with him early in October.

Thankfully, our horses have really been in good form as we head into the closing months of the turf season. When they’re happy and healthy like that, hopefully we can keep them running to a good standard and pick up a few more races in the coming weeks.