The miracle that is Medinah

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The miracle that is Medinah

Some top class riding during week 39 saw 12 winners, with Liam Keniry claiming possibly the biggest win of his career to date at Newmarket.

Barry O’Neill

Monday, 7 October 2013
6:55 PM GMT



WEEK 39 23rd-29th SEPTEMBER

Another great week for locals, with 12 winners from 11 individual horses and a milestone winner for Liam Keniry, who took the Group 3 Somerville Stakes at Newmarket, for possibly one of the biggest wins of his career.

THE MIRACLE THAT IS MEDINAH

Killeagh native and flat jockey Liam Keniry had one of the biggest wins of his career, when taking the Group 3 Somerville Tattersalls Stakes, aboard the Mark Usher trained Miracle Of Medinah (25/1), at Newmarket on September 26th last.

Going to post the outsider of eight, this two year old Milk It Mick colt, showed again what a bargain buy he was at just 3000gns and is a great advertisement for the training skills of his Lambourn based handler, Usher. Running for the first time beyond six furlongs, Miracle Of Medinah broke well and chased the lead set by Silent Bullet (6/1) on the rail. Always hassling that leader off what looked an even pace, Keniry seemed in cruise control.

Reaching the two furlong marker full of horse, Keniry asked the first serious question of his mount. The response was immense, and kicking onto the one furlong marker, there was just one challenge left to overcome, that of race favourite Cable Bay (11/4f). With the crowd sensing a huge shock, the race commentator quoting the “Miracle Of Medinah”, that was the Ryder Cup, the outcome seemed in doubt, but Cable Bay never got a shot in and Miracle Of Medinah stayed on strongly up the Newmarket hill, to record a famous win by one and a quarter lengths.

Winning for the fourth time this season and emulating his sire Milk It Mick, who also won this race under Pat Eddery 10 years ago, Miracle Of Medinah may now be aimed at the Horris Hill Stakes in the coming weeks.

Mark Usher, winning trainer went onto say, "The fast ground is important to him and he had excuses on his last two starts. We may look at the Horris Hill at Newbury if the ground is suitable."

'HAY' JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED

Fermoy native and trainer, David O'Meara recorded no less than five winners last week to take his 2013 winning total on the flat to a remarkable 121. The yard's most notable winner came with Doc Hay (10/1), who took the feature Ripon Cathedral City Of The Dales Handicap (class 2) over 6f, under David Nolan, on September 28 last.

This looked a highly competitive event, with eleven runners going to post. Slowly away from an inside draw, Doc Hay and Nolan had little choice but to drop out behind a wall of horses. With an honest pace set by Above Standard (15/2), Nolan found himself nearer last than first. Switching his mount towards the centre of the course, Doc Hay in a first time hood started to make eye catching ground around runners. With the race on in earnest inside the final two furlongs, Doc Hay was scorching home. Hitting the front inside the final furlong, he had only race favourite Spinatrix (7/2f) as a final challenger.

But the mare only got to his girth and Nolan drove out his mount for a stout win by three quarters of a length.

Recording his first win over six furlongs and eight in total, Doc Hay ended a losing streak that stretched back to last October and in doing so broke the £100,000 barrier in prize money earned.

Seamus Laffan, winning owner went onto say, "This was the first time Doc Hay has won over six furlongs, but I always thought he'd get it on good ground."

O'Meara went onto record another four winners during the week, these were Tabaayun (9/1) at Hamilton, Open Eagle (10/1) at Carlisle and Berlusca (12/1) at Mussleburgh, all ridden by stable jockey Danny Tudhope. And last but not least Ingleby Angel (12/1) at Haydock ridden by stable apprentice and Fethard jockey, David Bergin.

THE NEPHEW FOLLOWS UP FOR MCLERNON

Liscarroll native and jump jockey Richie McLernon, was back aboard the Jonjo O'Neill trained The Nephew (5/2jf), in a class 5 handicap chase at Worcester, over 2m4f, on September 27th last.

Sent to post joint favourite in this eleven runner contest, the 5 year old son of Indian River was bidding to follow up his Uttoxeter win five days previously, upped in distance and under a penalty. Dropped out in rear and slightly detached from the main pack, McLernon was happy to bide his time as the race developed in front of him. With the front runners headed by Neverownup (8/1) looking to go off to fast, McLernon made the right decision here, but jumping errors were now creeping into The Nephew's race and McLernon decided to switch to the outside of runners for more daylight.

Down on his nose at the sixth fence, but still travelling smoothly, The Nephew took closer order picking off his rivals one by one. Tagging onto the leaders entering the home straight, none were going better. Moving into third position behind Nouailas (33/1) and Harris Garden (25/1) before the third last, McLernon led on the bit to the second last. A good jump over the final obstacle sealed the race and pushed out up the Worcester run-in, The Nephew went onto score emphatically, by nine lengths from the aforementioned Nouailas, whose jockey did well to stay aboard, as her saddled slipped entering the home straight.

Winning his second race under rules, off a mark of 98 here, The Nephew still looks very progressive and holds another two entries in the coming days at Sedgefield and Chepstow.

Richie McLernon, speaking to The Avondhu, went on to say, "He's a funny horse and didn't jump great early, but he got it together over the last few. It was great to get his head in front again, as he's hard to catch right."

Castletownroche native and trainer Jonjo O'Neill went on to record a second winner with Listen And Learn (9/4f), in a class 4 handicap hurdle over 2m6f at Newton Abbot, on September 24th last. Ridden by champion jockey Tony McCoy, this five year old son of Rathbarry stallion Presenting, was biding for a third win under rules off a mark 13lb higher than for his Stratford win, on August 13th.

Dropped out by McCoy in this eight runner contest, Listen And Learn was switched to the outside after the sixth flight. Making steady headway to the third last and travelling sweetly for McCoy, O’Neill's charge drew clear to the second last hurdle. A mistake at the final flight gave his backers a few anxious moments, but all was well and McCoy gave Listen And Learn an easy time of it up the run-in, going on to record a five length win.

Tony McCoy, winning jockey went onto say, "This was the right race for him. He appreciated that trip. He left his hind legs behind at the last, but he was fine."

LOCAL BATTLE GOES TO KILWORTH

Kilworth native and flat jockey Martin Lane, recorded another winner this past week, aboard the Robert Cowell trained R Woody (8/1), in a class 6 claimer over 5f at Wolverhampton, on September 28th last.

In a race which turned into a battle between Kilworth and Fermoy, it was Lane and R Woody who came out on top over Fermoy native, David O'Meara's charge Dick Bos (6/4f).

Breaking well in a first time eye shield, R Woody and Lane took a prominent position in second place, just off the pacesetter Decision By One (15/2). Dick Bos under Joe Fanning, sat a handy third, just wide of runners. As the race hotted up, it was Lane, who on joining Decision By One two furlongs out, took the race by the scruff of the neck. Passing the pacesetter wide off the home turn, R Woody was now in full flight, with only Dick Bos bearing down on him to the outside. Entering the final furlong, it was a battle royale between R Woody and Dick Bos. With O'Meara's charge looking the more likely, it was down to sheer guts and strength in the saddle. With Lane mustering more from his mount and Fanning not giving an inch, it came down to the wire, with R Woody just eking out more, to win by a hard fought neck.

Martin Lane, speaking to The Avondhu went onto say, "The drop in class helped R Woody and it gave him the chance to sit on the pace which didn't disappoint him. The fact I beat a Fermoy man in the process was an added bonus, sadly it didn't happen often enough on the GAA pitch when I was younger!"

RING IMPRESSES AGAIN ON ARGUAM

Freemount native and conditional jump jockey, Conor Ring, always makes the most of his opportunities, and he again was seen to good effect, aboard the Evan Williams trained Arguam (7/2f), in a class 5 selling handicap hurdle, over 2m1f at Newton Abbot, on September 24th last.

Ridden handy in third place off the pacesetters, Pindar (9/2) and Danehill Dante (25/1), this six year son of Medicean, travelled keenly in Ring's hands. Jumping well to the outside of runners, Arguam joined the leaders upsides going out on the final circuit. Going as well as any and taking closer order to the fourth last, Arguam passed the early leaders and led briefly going to the third last. With No No Cardinal (33/1) and Tommy Phelan sneaking up the inside and taking over in front, it was down to Ring to get racing in second place. No No Cardinal's lead was short lived and Arguam stormed to the front going to the second last, only to be joined over that flight by Bazart (14/1). With both horses going to the last locked together, it was all down to jumping.

Arguam didn't read the script and made a bad mistake, his nose almost touching the floor. But with little momentum lost up the short run-in, Ring got a huge response from his mount, who was all out to hold on by a neck at the line. Showing a game attitude in re-applied visor, Arguam is a likeable sort and Ring looks like a jockey going places.

Conor Ring, speaking to The Avondhu went onto say “He was really tough despite making a bad mistake at the last and just kept galloping all the way to the

line.”



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