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Kilworth native Martin Lane saddled 2 winners in Week 41, one fo these being the Irish Stallion Farms Maiden Stakes at Pontefract.

WEEK 41: 6th - 12th OCTOBER 2014

With the flat season winding down and the jumpers warming up for the winter, we have 4 winners to report on this week. This takes our combined total for 2014 to 381 winners.

OCEANOGRAPHER CHARTS IMPRESSIVE WIN UNDER LANE

Kilworth native and flat jockey, Martin Lane, racked up a brace of winners from last week’s racing and took his domestic 2014 total onto the 36 winner mark. His most notable winner came aboard the Charlie Appleby trained, Oceanographer (6/4f), who took the Irish Stallion Farms Maiden Stakes (C4), over 1m2f, at Pontefract on October 6th last.

Making only his second racecourse appearance and upped in class and distance, this two year old Sea The Stars colt, was all the rage in the betting ring, going to post a warm favourite, off the back of a pleasing debut at Sandown the previous month. With weather conditions deteriorating before the first race, this was always going to be a true test of stamina for these juveniles.

Jumping well from the gate, Lane got a box seat position, sitting second just off the pacesetter, Oregon Gift. Biding his time off a sensible gallop, Oceanographer took closer order to the leaders outside, travelling well to halfway. Coming upsides Oregon Gift just on the half mile pole, the front pair pushed on, leaving their rivals seemingly in trouble and stringing out before the entrance into the home bend.

Hitting the front well over two furlongs out, Lane kicked on off the home turn and galloped into a clear lead on entering the final furlong. With only Mystical City coming out of the pack to pose any kind of threat, Oceanographer was never in any danger and strode on resolutely to win readily by some two and a half lengths.

Recording his first win, Oceanographer looks a real promising type having cost 360,000gns as a yearling. His dam won a Grade 2 over a mile plus in Canada and like many from Godolphin, he holds a 2015 Derby entry. It will be interesting to see what route he takes when he returns to action next spring, as he looked very professional and straightforward in this race and is clearly a very useful colt.

Lane went onto record a second winner aboard the Stuart Kittow trained, Cartmell Cleave (12/1), who took the Ladbrokes Nursery Handicap (C6), over 6f, at Wolverhampton on October 11th last. Making his handicap debut, on this, his fourth start, Cartmell Cleave built on the promise he had shown on a synthetic surface at Lingfield Park back in July, when placing a close up third after being slowly away. His trainer now has the option of keeping him to an all-weather surface over the coming winter months.

EAGLE OPENS WAY FOR NOVEMBER HANDICAP UNDER TUDHOPE

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara, recorded his 103rd UK winner in 2014, with the Danny Tudhope ridden, Open Eagle (9/1), who went onto to take the 19 runner Coldstream Guards Cup Handicap (C4), over 1m2f, at York on October 11th last. Dropping down into a class 4 handicap for the first time since arriving over from France, this five year old gelded son of Montjeu, looked well handicapped off the back of his November Handicap third last season, having fallen to his lowest ever mark of 82 here.

Breaking well from a wide draw in 16, Tudhope got into an ideal position tracking the early pacesetter, Giantstepsahead, in about fourth place, two deep off the rail. With the early pace generous as the field strung out going to halfway, Open Eagle took closer order travelling sweetly entering the home turn bend. Switched to the inside as soon as they straightened up for home, Tudhope found himself with plenty horse and a clear sight of the winning post. Ridden fully two and a half furlongs out, Open Eagle took over at the head of affairs and proceeded to kick for home. Challenged to the outside by the smooth travelling Ginger Jack, O'Meara's charge was headed for two strides just inside the final furlong, but responded gamely to his jockey’s urgings, going on to gallop clear of that rival with 100yds to go. With one and a quarter lengths to spare at the line, this Middleham Park owned gelding was notching up his 5th win from just 15 turf starts. He seems to thrive on soft ground which looks key to him.

He will again feel the wrath of the handicapper, as he again heads south for this year’s November Handicap, where he would have to have a big shout given the right conditions. This was also a red letter day for jockey Danny Tudhope who was riding his 100th winner of the season.

David O'Meara, winning trainer, went onto say, "He ran well in the November Handicap last year and there is no reason why he shouldn't go back there again, he does like give in the ground."

IRISH NO ROOKIE ON DEBUT UNDER KENIRY

Killeagh native and flat jockey, Liam Keniry, kept up his weekly winning run, recording his 55th winner of 2014 aboard the Martyn Meade trained, Irish Rookie (50/1), who went onto win the 17 runner Jack Berry House Maiden Fillies' Stakes (C4), over 7f, at Newmarket on October 11th last.

Making her racecourse debut, this two year old daughter of Azamour, belied her huge starting price to make an impressive start to her racing career in the colours of Rick Barnes. Slowly into stride, Keniry positioned his mount up the inside of runners, in touch, on the far side group, as the field divided into two. With Colorada setting a good early pace, Irish Rookie was sighted travelling well in Keniry's hands, edging closer going past the halfway point. With clear daylight up the inside, Irish Rookie tanked up to the leaders’ quarters and was produced to make her challenge as they entered the dip, fully one and a half furlongs out.

Passing Colorada at the one pole, she picked up nicely for Keniry when asked to go about her job. Ridden out, she duly repelled all challenges and always looked to be doing enough as the winning post approached. Striding on, Irish Rookie went on to win by a neck from Sharqeyih back in second, with a further head back to Tazffin in third place.

Bought for 16,000gns as a yearling, Irish Rookie is a half sister to two winners and looks the type to go on and do well next season. Meade, who is always underrated as a trainer of two year olds, as this horse’s starting price suggests, has a highly respectable 20% win strike rate with his juveniles over the last five seasons. He will no doubt garner some more respect in future two year old races.

Martyn Meade, winning trainer, went onto say, "That was not a big surprise as her odds would suggest as she has been working nicely. I think that will be it for the year with her."

UK flat/jumps 2014 = 374, Dubai = 3, Ireland = 2, Canada = 1, France = 1.

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