Sea Of Rain set for Doncaster assignment after Curragh victory
The Naval Crown filly raised her game to score by three-quarters of a length.
Jim Bolger is planning a trip to Doncaster’s St Leger meeting with Sea Of Rain following her victory in the Newtownanner Stud Irish EBF Stakes at the Curragh.
The Naval Crown filly was the most experienced in the 10-strong field with six previous runs under her belt, only one of which she had won.
She was an 18-1 shot stepping up to Group Three level under Colin Keane, but raised her game to score by three-quarters of a length from Ballyskeagh.
Bolger said: “I’m kicking myself – I intended backing her when I saw the 25-1 but I forgot about it. I’m the worst punter in the world!
“It’s no surprise. All she needed was the mile and a gallop. I’ve been telling the lads she’s my Oaks filly for next year.
“That’s only Colin’s second ride for me. I’d say we’ll go for the May Hill at Doncaster. I won it years ago with Turret Rocks (2015).”
Aidan O’Brien’s Darkness Falls opened his account at the second time of asking in the John Ormonde Wexford Sand Irish EBF Maiden.
Third on his debut at Leopardstown last month, the son of Camelot was the 4-6 favourite to go a couple of places better and did so in some style, stretching seven lengths clear of stablemate Albany County in the hands of Ryan Moore.
“He had a lovely run the first day. He’s a Camelot with a lot of class,” said O’Brien.
“He’s a beautiful mover so ground won’t matter to him. When Ryan said ‘go’ it was over very quick.
“He’s in the mix for the Golden Fleece at Leopardstown, that’s why he ran again today.”
The €100,000 Tote Irish Cambridgeshire went to Andrew Slattery’s progressive four-year-old Loughrea.
The 9-2 shot was on a hat-trick after wins over this course and distance and at Leopardstown and proved much the best, winning comfortably by three lengths.
“We thought he was very well handicapped off 91, but you don’t know until you try and these things don’t always work out,” said Slattery.
“I have him entered on (Irish) Champions Weekend in the Northfields Handicap, but he’ll probably come here for the Concorde Stakes now. Dropping him back to seven (furlongs) won’t be a problem and he’ll be rated 100 now anyway, so I suppose handicaps are out.
“It’s only his sixth run and he done nothing but improve.”
Nina Carberry barely had to move a muscle as she made a winning return to the saddle aboard 5-6 favourite Ndaawi in the Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Charity Race.
Carberry, who retired from riding in 2018 after partnering Josies Orders to victory at the Punchestown Festival, raced prominently on the Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old, who powered away to record a comfortable six-length victory.
The 42-year-old, now a Member of the European Parliament, said: “He got me out of trouble! You need the good ones to pull you out of trouble.
“He’s a very good horse. When you’re on a good one you can be wherever you want to be. He was lovely to ride and Gordon produced him lovely for today and he’s a great supporter of the race.
“My girls wouldn’t know me as a rider at all so it was nice for them to see a little glimpse of what I had for 17 years. It was lovely to have mum here and all the family.”