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Six wins registered abroad for Avondhu area riding connections, during week 45. Photo: 123RF

WEEK 45 4th-10th Nov, 2013

We have six winners to report on this week, three from Jonjo O'Neill and three from Martin Lane, with O'Neill training Tony McCoy's landmark 4,000th winner in the saddle.

McCOY IMPERIOUS TO THE TUNE OF 4,000

Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, had a quieter than usual week with three winners, made up by the fact that he provided Tony McCoy, the eighteen times champion jockey, with his 4,000th winner, in a career unsurpassed and truly remarkable.

The stage was set at Towcester, on November 7th last, with McCoy only needing one more winner to reach this seemingly impossible landmark. With Towcester expecting a huge crowd, they made the smart move of allowing free entry. The crowds came to witness a colossus in the saddle and they weren't left disappointed. With only two booked rides, both for his boss and owner J.P. McManus, McCoy was desperate that his 4,000th winner, would be in the green and gold silks of McManus.

With his first mount Church Field (3/1f) failing to deliver, it was left to Mountain Tunes (6/4f) to paint the perfect picture. Heavily supported, this four year son of Mountain High, was making his racecourse debut, having won a point-to-point on his second start at Tyrella back in March. Subsequently bought for £75,000 after that win, Mountain Tunes looked a nice sort, if somewhat immature. Not always fluent at his jumps, he was dropped out early by McCoy who bided his time.

Taking closer order before the third last, McCoy got busy to chase down the leading trio. Looking green, it was going to take all of McCoy's magic to get this one home in front. Coming under a strong ride to the second last and Mountain Tunes slowly but surely started to respond to McCoy's urgings. With five lengths to make up on the leading pair of Panama Petrus (20/1) and Kris Spin (7/1) at the second last, McCoy sensed something we could all see. Going to the last and Mountain Tunes was now upsides Panama Petrus who he duly bumped out of the way on landing.

In full flow now and with the race leader awkward at the last, McCoy mowed down Kris Spin inside the final 50yds to win at the line by just half a length. A tremendous ride from McCoy who was never going to do it on the bridle. A brave performance also from his mount, who was oblivious to all the commotion that followed. McCoy will now go down as one of the greatest sportsmen of all time, an honour he won't accept lightly, but truly deserves. He is the benchmark for all sportsmen and women, across all spectrums of not only sport, but life itself.

O'Neill and McCoy went onto record another two winners, firstly with Foundation Man (11/10f), in a class 4 handicap chase over 2m4f at Kempton, on November 4th last. Having just his second start over fences, this imposing six year old son of Presenting, needed all of McCoy's cajoling to get his head in front here. Disputing the lead early with Lemon's Gent (4/1), Foundation Man needed a stern reminder after jumping the tenth fence. Taking a definite advantage to three out, McCoy kept the immature gelding up to his work and challenged to the last jump by Upton Mead (13/2), O'Neill's charge responded well for McCoy and duly stayed on willingly, for a convincing two and three quarter length win.

Recording his first win on this his seventh start, Foundation Man, a half brother to top class chaser Captain Chris, can now go on from this. He is the type who only looks to do enough, which can be a big advantage from a handicapping point of view.

Tony McCoy, winning jockey, went onto say, "He has been a disappointing horse to be honest. I was saying to Pat, the owner, if he was your child, you would be giving him a kick up the backside every now and then. He is just a bit gormless, a bit of a slow learner, he never really travelled around there. He was going everywhere but forward, but he obviously has ability and he can improve. He is taking a step nearer and he is getting better. You can see from the size of him that he is a chaser, and hopefully he will improve with every race he runs."

O'Neill and McCoy's third and final winner came with Minella For Steak (3/1f), in a class 3 handicap hurdle over 3m, at Chepstow, on November 6th last.

Recording back to back wins, this six year son of King's Theatre, looks a durable and hardy type. On the upgrade, he idled once hitting the front here, but got back on top to win by three quarters of a length at the line. An expensive purchase at £230,000 after winning his point-to-point for John Nallen, Minella For Steak will now undoubtedly find life a lot harder after reassessment by the handicapper. He is a real chasing type, but a crashing fall on chase debut last April has put that option on hold. He came back not sold from Ascot sales the day after this win and one can only assume he has a lot of physical issues, the most notable of which is his breathing.

Tony McCoy, winning jockey, went onto say, "For a horse who really struggles with his breathing, it is almost unbelievable he has won his last two races on ground as bad as you can get."

50 UP FOR LANE

Kilworth native and flat jockey, Martin Lane, broke through the 50 winner mark for 2013, riding no less than three winners last week, which included a Wolverhampton double.

Lane's most notable winner came aboard the Brian Meehan trained, Love Tangle (7/2jf), in a class 5 maiden over 1m at Nottingham, on November 6th last.

Having only his second start, this two year old gelded son of Azamour, was running here off the back of a satisfactory Newmarket debut and didn't need to improve a whole lot to take this weaker looking race. With ten runners becoming nine on the withdrawal of main market rival, Honor Bound (4/1), the race set up nicely for Lane. Tracking the early pace set by the Mark Johnston trained, Stout Cortez (5/1), Lane pounced on that rival just inside the final furlong. Driven out to the line, Love Tangle went on to record a one length win, in a time which was 12 seconds slower than standard for the distance.

Bred and owned by Ballymacoll Stud, who also bred the 2013 Melbourne Cup winner, Fiorente, Love Tangle is open to bags more improvement and should have little issue in going on from this.

Well bred as you would expect from Ballymacoll, Love Tangle's dam is a full sister to Irish 2000 Guineas and Champion Stakes winner Spectrum. This horse was also noted as a withdrawal from the horses in training sale at Tattersalls last week, a tip in itself I hear you say.

Martin Lane, winning jockey went onto say, "He ran a nice race first time out and has backed that up. He travelled really well and is a fine big horse."

Lane's second winner came aboard the John Hills trained, Arms (11/2), in a class 5 maiden, over 7f, at Wolverhampton, on November 7th last. Going to post up against a Godolphin hotpot in the shape of Musaddas (4/11f), who had twice previously finished in front of Arms, Lane broke well from an outside draw to take up the running in the early stages. That lead didn't last long, as the hard pulling It Must Be Faith (4/1), forced his way to the front after two furlongs, leaving Lane content to sit handy up the inside. With the race on in earnest, all eyes were on the Godolphin blue, but seemingly Musaddas was now outpaced at a vital part of this race, as Lane kicked on off the home turn. Passing It Must Be Faith, Arms hit the front well inside the final furlong and was not for catching. He stayed on strongly for a convincing one and a quarter length win, from the staying on again Musaddas, back in second place. Recording his first win on this his sixth start, Arms had shown a liking for Wolverhampton as a two year old, finishing a head second on only his second start last season.

A €40,000 foal, whose dam is a half sister to top class American grade 1 winner Ashkal Way, Arms has Hong Kong connections and will no doubt end up there at some point in his career.

John Hills, winning trainer, went onto say, "His owner is based in Hong Kong and there's a good chance Arms will go out there at some stage. I think he wants good or fast ground and it was bottomless last time which did not suit him."

Lane's third and final winner completed a double on the night at Wolverhampton for the Kilworth man. Riding Poetic Choice (12/1) for trainer Nick Littmoden, in a class 6 nursery over 6f, Lane again was seen to good effect with forcing tactics after a tardy start. Taking the race in hand fully five furlongs out, Poetic Choice bombed through this race and duly put her rivals to bed well over a furlong out. Ridden clear to the line, she went onto record a three and a half length win, from Bazooka (3/1) back in second place.

Recording her first win, on this her fifth start, this two year old daughter of Byron, looked to have plenty in hand here and is one to note for a follow up win under similar conditions. She holds two entries at Kempton Park, on November 14th.

Lane now stands on the 52 winner mark for 2013 and not many jockeys are riding better at this moment in time. With the flat turf season ending last Saturday at Doncaster, Lane will no doubt be looking towards the warmer climbs of Dubai this winter.

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