Baraboy goes from boy to man under Brian Harding

By
znR
-

Avondhupress.ie uses cookies. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Click here to find out more or Close

Columns

Baraboy goes from boy to man under Brian Harding

Brian Harding, Liam Keniry and Fermoy native and trainer, David O’Meara were the local connections to record success during Week 49 abroad – bringing the cumulative total thus far in 2014 to 439 winners.

Barry O’Neill

Tuesday, 16 December 2014
8:40 PM GMT



WEEK 49: 1st-7th DECEMBER 2014

A quieter than usual week for Avondhu locals based in the UK, with only 3 winners to report on, this bringing our combined total for 2014 up to 439 winners.

BARA GOES FROM BOY TO MAN UNDER HARDING

Castletownroche native and jump jockey, Brian Harding, recorded his 32nd winner of the 2014-15 season, aboard the Barry Murtagh trained, Baraboy (7/2), who went onto take the 6 runner Seneca Homes Novices' Handicap Hurdle (C5), over 17f, at Sedgefield on December 2nd last.

Coming into this race off the back of a good second at Ayr last time out and tried in first time tongue-tie, this four year old gelded son of Barathea, looked to have a good opportunity of breaking his maiden tag over hurdles, on this, his 13th attempt. Jumping off in second last position off a break neck pace set by Baltic Pathfinder, this field were well strung out after jumping the first two flights of hurdles.

With Baltic Pathfinder taken on for the lead by Beyondtemptation, who led on passing the winning post first time around, this race was setting up nicely for a closer and as the field set out on their final circuit, the pack began to close right up on the leaders.

The race changed dramatically when firstly, Khelac and then race favourite, Zero Visibility pulled up before three out, reducing the field down to just four runners. With Beyondtemptation now the clear leader over three out, Baraboy closed right up to stalk the lead, moving into second place as they came off the home turn and straightened up for home.

Happy to sit one length off the leaders heels going down over the second last, Harding made his move between the last two flights of hurdles. Coming upsides Beyondtemptation, Baraboy came over the last flight best and ridden out, stayed on strongly under a well judged ride, to win by one and a quarter lengths.

Winning here off a mark of 90, Baraboy, also a winner on the flat at Ayr, looks consistent and game enough to hold his own in this sort of company. This race, although weak, panned out nicely for him in the end and winning trainer, Barry Murtagh, went onto say, "They went very hard and that suited him. He ran well at Ayr last time and he goes on the ground. Brian has given him a great ride."

DUKE LORDS IT OVER RIVALS IN COURSE RECORD TIME

Killeagh native and flat jockey, Liam Keniry, rode his 61st winner of 2014, aboard the Sylvester Kirk trained Dukes Den (8/1), who took the 8 runner, 32Red Casino Handicap (C6), over 16.5f, at Wolverhampton on December 6th last.

Bidding to break his maiden tag, on this, his 6th run and with a falling handicap mark, now down to 56 from an opening mark of 64, this three year old gelded son of Duke Of Marmalade, had seen the distances he races over increase with each run. Never far off the lead in about fifth position, as the pace looked generously set by Authentication, who himself was pressed to his outside by Yorkshireman, Dukes Den ran somewhat in snatches under Keniry as they passed the winning post first time around.

Again coming off the bit passing the halfway point, Dukes Den suddenly came back on the bridle as Authentication tired and Yorkshireman kicked for home well over four furlongs out. Moving smoothly into second place, Keniry, made his move to the outside of Yorkshireman, joining and passing the leader on rounding the home turn.

With Lacey and Adam Kirby closing in on Dukes Den entering the home straight, it became a two horse war, as both jockeys got down to business inside the final two furlongs. Ridden out strongly, Dukes Den responded well to Keniry's urgings and never looked likely to relinquish his advantage all the way to the winning post. Staying on well, Dukes Den went onto win by some one and three quarter lengths from Lacey, with a further nine lengths back to the third place finisher, Yorkshireman.

Although not a strong race on paper, the track record was lowered here on this new Tapeta surface. With 11 previous races over this trip since the new surface was layed, it all bodes well for Dukes Den going forward. He may be well handicapped for the foreseeable future over this type of staying trip and looks to have found his niche. He could also make up into a nice hurdler in time.

Liam Keniry, winning rider, went onto say, "He does stay well and has a good attitude. He should progress from here."

O'MEARA OPENS JUMP SEASON ACCOUNT WITH TONIIGHT

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara, recorded his 112th UK winner of 2014 and his first winner of the 2014-15 jumps season, showing again his adeptness under both codes of racing, with the Denis O'Regan ridden After Toniight (6/1), who took the 9 runner Racing UK National Hunt Flat Race (C6), over 16f, at Catterick on December 3rd last.

Making only his second racecourse start, this four year old gelded son of Lando came into this race off the back of a pleasing debut, at Sedgefield, towards the end of October, where he finished a tiring fourth over slightly further, in softer ground conditions. Clearly benefiting from that experience and sent to post one of the market leaders, After Toniight was settled in second position by O'Regan, tracking the early pacesetter, Five For Fifteen, who bounded along at a respectable pace.

Clearly wanting to insert more stamina into this race, Jason Maguire, aboard winning point-to-pointer, Five For Five, kicked on some four lengths clear of the chasing pack, headed by After Toniight. With the field now well past halfway, this race was building up nicely, as again Maguire, heading down the back-straight, let the field close right up on him. Approaching the entrance to the home straight and Maguire tried to steal a march on his rivals, kicking on again on the run for home. O'Regan, wise to the situation, switched his mount, who still travelled well, to the near-side to challenge and easily reeled in the leader, who folded tamely well inside the final two furlongs.

Picking up nicely, After Toniight stormed into the lead by some two lengths and had one challenger left in the shape of race favourite, Danielle's Journey, who seemed to be doing all her best work towards the end of this race. Ridden out, O'Meara's charge always looked to be holding the fast finishing runner-up and duly went on to score by a cosy looking half a length. It was a further three and half lengths back to Vintage Clouds in third place position.

A €20,000 yearling, this Richard Collins owned, French bred gelding, can go onto better things if and when he takes to hurdling. David O'Meara, winning trainer, went onto say, "A different course and different ground suited him today. I was very pleased with him."

SNIPPETS

David O'Meara and Middleham Park racing have decided against sending their Group 1 winning sprinter, G Force, to the Hong Kong Sprint on Sunday week. He will instead be rested after a long season. It is also reported that O'Meara's November Handicap winner, Open Eagle, will make his hurdling debut in January for trainer, Willie Mullins.

Well done to Jimmy Mangan, Paddy Mangan and Paul Cashman on their wins at Cork racecourse last Sunday. Also, it’s good to hear that Davy Condon will be back in the saddle after fracturing his back, at Cork, back in August. Condon was given the all clear to return from the middle of December. Finally, well done again to Johnny Burke on his win at Punchestown last Sunday.

UK Flat/Jumps 2014 = 432; Dubai = 3; Ireland = 2; Canada = 1; France = 1.



blog comments powered by Disqus



RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR