International group winners for David O’Meara

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International group winners for David O’Meara

O’Meara, Keniry and Lane were in the winners enclosure in Week 37 – O’Meara recording an unprecedented 3 group winners.

Barry O’Neill

Tuesday, 22 September 2015
8:30 PM GMT



WEEK 37: MONDAY 7th – SUNDAY, 13TH SEPT.

Another 9 winners to report on from Avondhu area locals based in the UK and a remarkable weekend treble for Fermoy native, David O'Meara, who trained three Group winners at all levels, from 3 to 1 in three different countries, over a 24 hour period. Killeagh native, Liam Keniry, rode three smashing winners, with Kilworth native, Martin Lane, adding a further winner to his tally. This takes our 2015 combined total onto the 351 winner mark.

GRADE 1 WINNER MONDIALISTE CAPS UNFORGETTABLE WEEKEND FOR TEAM O'MEARA

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara, has achieved much in his short time as a trainer, but last weekend will be forever etched in his memory. Having sent out four horses to three different countries to contest Group or Graded races, he must have been pinching himself with three returning victorious, one at the top level.

That top level or Grade 1 winner, came with the tough and durable Mondialiste (19/5), ridden by Fergal Lynch, who went onto take the 9 runner Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1), over 8f, at Woodbine, Canada on September 13th last. Coming into this race off the back of a Group 3 win last time out, this five year old Galileo entire, was bidding to secure his future as a stallion, on a turf track that looked likely to play to his strengths.

Dropped out well in rear early doors and last of nine runners, off a searching looking pace, set by runaway leader, Obviously, Mondialiste settled well for Lynch, who could only hope that the early fractions would be too quick for the first half a mile. A solid 23.10secs boded well through the first quarter mile and a similar 23.20secs for the second quarter mile looked likely to set this race up well for a closer or closers. With the leader still some five or six lengths clear of the second entering the top of the home stretch and a further six lengths back to the chasing pack, Mondialiste looked to have it all to do. Ridden strongly well inside the last two and a half furlongs, Mondialiste got into full gear at the two pole and as they say 'hope floats'.

With Obviously resolute and proving hard to pass, Reporting Star, who had sat second all the way, tried and failed to get by the leader. This left race favourite, Lea, to take his turn, but no sooner had he stormed down the outside, passing both Obviously and Reporting Star, when from the clouds, as if shot from a cannon, came Mondialiste. A perfectly timed challenge between runners, saw this Geoff and Sandra Turnbull owned horse produced close home to deny all comers right where it mattered. Winning going away in the end by half a length from Lea, Mondialiste sealed an astonishing weekend for all connected with the David O'Meara team.

With his first runner in North America, O'Meara has now proved his skills at the highest level on a world stage. Mondialiste, by the mighty stallion Galileo, now has his future secured as a stallion on either side of the Atlantic. He now gets a ticket to this year's Breeder's Cup in Keeneland, an option connections will no doubt mull over long and hard.

O'Meara went onto record another four winners, two of which were at Group level. Custom Cut (11/4), ridden by Danny Tudhope, took the Group 2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang Stakes, over 8f at Leopardstown, on September 12th; Move In Time (31/10f), who won the Group 3 Prix Du Petit Couvert over 5f, again under Danny Tudhope, at Longchamp, France on September 13th; Ingleby Angel (8/1), who won the Anderson Sawmills H'cap (C3), under Josh Doyle (7), over 8f at Carlisle, on September 9th and finally, Rex Imperator (13/2f), who scored in the Ladbrokes Life H'cap (C3), under David Nolan, over 6f at Doncaster, on September 10th last.

O'Meara moves onto 105 winners for 2015.

FIFTY SHADES FINALLY BREAKS FREE ON TURF

Killeagh native and flat jockey, Liam Keniry, recorded three winners in Week 37, this taking his 2015 total onto the 40 winner mark. His most notable success came aboard the George Baker trained, Fiftyshadesfreed (12/1), who went onto take the 8 runner Unibet H'cap, over 10f, at Sandown Park on September 11th last. Coming into this race the outsider and still looking for a first turf win, this four year old gelded grey son of Verglas, seemed unfancied, but a falling handicap mark and a drop in class were advantages seemingly not factored into this market.

Well away from an outside draw position of nine and settled into fourth place, off a steady pace set by Zambeasy, Fiftyshadesfreed had the slowly away Sonnolento for company, up his inside, for the first half mile. With the field strung out in pairs and the pace still steady to halfway, Keniry and Fiftyshadesfreed were sighted travelling well within themselves entering the top of the home straight. Moving nicely into third, Keniry still sat quiet stalking the pace as Symphony Of Kings came alongside the long time leader, Zambeasy, at the three pole, eventually taking over in front, well over two furlongs out.

All the while, Keniry seemed intent on letting Fiftyshadesfreed come to challenge on his terms and before he knew it, they were upsides Symphony Of Kings with all of 150 yards to go. Edging slowly ahead, Keniry couldn't bite the bullet any longer and getting low in the saddle he let Fiftyshadesfreed know there was a race to be won. Ridden strongly and only a head up with the line looming, Fiftyshadesfreed fought off the renewed challenge of Symphony Of Kings, going on to win by that head at the line. It was a further three lengths back to early leader, Zambeasy in third.

Recording his 6th win in total and first ever on grass, this Team Fifty owned gelding, benefited from a shrewd ride, a falling handicap mark and a drop in class. Rated 92 in the past, he was winning here off a mark of 83, with all his wins coming in class 6 or 4 company. He again is another horse that seems to save his best form for this time of year, having now recorded four wins from five starts in the month of September.

Liam Keniry, speaking to The Avondhu, said, "Fiftyshadesfreed did just enough to win and that should give him confidence. He'll hopefully win another on turf before the end of the season."

Keniry went onto ride another two winners and they were, in date order: Lytham St Annes (2/1Jf), trained by David Simcock, who took the Plasson UK Maiden Stakes(C5 2yo) over 7f, at Epsom, on September 10th and finally, Roring Samson (4/1), trained again by George Baker, who finally scored at the 11th time of asking, in the Mr Mason & Mr Morgan H'cap (C6), over 5f, at Ffos Las on September 13th last.

NOTHING PUZZLING ABOUT THAT LOOK

Kilworth native and flat jockey, Martin Lane, registered his 35th winner of 2015 aboard the Ralph Beckett trained, Puzzled Look (1/2f), who went onto take the 9 runner Irish Stallion Farms Fillies' Maiden Stakes (C5), over 7f, at Chepstow on September 10th last. Sent to post a warm favourite, off the back of a highly promising second, on debut at Newmarket last time out, this two year old daughter of Sakhee's Secret, was bidding to go one better here, in what looked a very winnable contest.

Well away from her draw position, in 7, Puzzled Look was soon in the van seat, off what looked a fairly even pace and a well contested lead. With five runners, Blushes, Broughton's Fancy, Cape Crystal, Maid Of Medina and Puzzled Look forcing the pace, it was the last mentioned who looked to be travelling head and shoulders above the rest.

Carrying him smoothly into the lead passing the three furlong marker, Lane sat quiet while those around him began to feel the pinch. Only asked a serious question well inside the two furlong pole, Puzzled Look responded well to her jockey, stretching out entering the final furlong and duly going onto win readily come the winning post.

Justifying favouritism in no uncertain fashion, this Dr. Bridget Drew owned filly had one and a quarter lengths to spare over the promising debutant, Siri, who stayed on well from the back, for second. It was a further half a length back to Broughton's Fancy in third.

Recording her first win, this 20,000gns yearling already looks a nice type to go to war with next season and she could well pick up some black-type on the way, given maturity. She is a first foal from her dam, Funny Enough by Dansili, herself a half sister to Listed winner, Oasis Dancer.

Martin Lane, speaking to The Avondhu, said, "Puzzled Look did it nicely but was entitled to win as her only start was a second placing in a Newmarket maiden. She will improve for the run and could have a bright future."

UK flat/jumps 2015 = 347, Ireland = 1, France = 2, Canada = 1.



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