WEEK 33 – 12th-18th AUGUST 2013

With David O’Meara reaching a milestone 100 winners for 2013, it has been a remarkable week for the Fermoy native. We have 12 winners in total to report on this week and some smashing prices to boot.

O’MEARA’S ‘TOTOL’ REACHES 100 WITH SKYLLACHY

Fermoy native and trainer David O’Meara hit a milestone that very few trainers hit when he recorded a century of winners in a calendar year and this in only his fourth full season with a license in the UK.

This is truly a remarkable feat for such a young trainer and all credit goes to him and his Nawton team in Yorkshire. O’Meara saddled a further four winners in total last week and continues to impress.

The ton up came with old favourite Toto Skyllachy (4/1) in a class 5 claimer over 1m1F at Carlisle on August 13th. After coming close with three seconds the previous day, it was great to see this milestone reached and no doubt O’Meara can now relax a little and reflect on such a great team effort.

Toto Skyllachy ridden by Graham Gibbons made all the running for a facile win by two and a quarter lengths. Recording his ninth win in total, this eight year son of Kyllachy embodies all that David O’Meara has achieved this past three and a half years. A horse on his fifth trainer, who refused to race on his debut, still finding that little bit more and most admirable of all wanting to give more for his connections. At eight years old, a lot of horses are thrown on the scrapheap. But here is one that is still winning with a want and vigour you wouldn’t see from a three year old.

O’Meara’s second winner came with Almagest (13/2) who followed up last weeks Ripon win in a class 4 handicap over 2m at Beverley on August 15th. Ridden by David Nolan, this five year old son of Galileo was held up off a messy pace and stayed well out of trouble, as the other four runners set stop start fractions. Played late by Nolan, Almagest was ridden to challenge Mojolika (9/2) inside the final furlong and stayed on dourly for a one and a quarter length win from the running on again Tartan Jura (9/1) back in second. Recording his third win from twelve starts, Almagest still looks to have scope for more improvement and may go on to complete a hat-trick of wins.

David O’Meara, winning trainer went onto say, “We were struggling to figure out Almagest and it was Danny Tudhope who suggested that we step him right up in trip and give him plenty of cover.”

O’Meara’s third winner was another milestone as Monakova (8/11f) became his 200th flat turf winner since 2010 and 293rd in all, amassing prize money in excess of £2 million. Monakova, ridden again by David Nolan, made short work of her rivals here to follow up last week’s Newcastle win over the same course and distance. She is on the upgrade now and although this was a weak class 6 handicap, it would be no surprise to see her complete a hat-trick of wins when upped in class in future events.

O’Meara’s fourth and final winner came again with the ever consistent Robert The Painter (14/1) who was recording his third win on the bounce in a class 3 handicap over 8F at Ripon on August 17th. For a horse who didn’t win for three years up until the middle of July, this is a remarkable turnaround.

Upped in class off a 12Lb higher mark and carrying a weight of 9-13, this five year old son of Whipper again benefited from a brilliant Graham Gibbons front running ride. Making all from a wide stall position he held on well to win by half a length from No Poppy (6/1) in second place.

This undoubtedly was Robert The Painter’s career best performance and the way he is going he could possibly be competitive in listed company. David O’Meara, winning trainer went onto say, “I thought he couldn’t win with a 12Lb rise and the draw, but he is obviously improving. Graham gave him a brilliant ride, he got a great start, was away and gone and then they got an easy enough lead.”

DERBY HOPE PINZOLO IMPRESSES UNDER LANE

Kilworth flat jockey Martin Lane took his 2013 winning total to 37 by riding two more winners in the UK last week. The most notable of which was Pinzolo (10/1) for new Godolphin trainer, Charlie Appleby in a class 4 2yo maiden over 8F at Newmarket on August 16th.

Having his first ride for Appleby, who also had Sudden Wonder (9/4) in this 8-runner line-up, Lane held up his mount in midfield off a slow pace set by Rock N Roll Star (3/1).

As the pace quickened into the dip, Pinzolo came under a ride from Lane and making his effort switched to the inside, he stayed on readily to pick off Munjaz (13/8f) and his stablemate Sudden Wonder well inside the final furlong. Running on well out of the dip and uphill to the finish, Pinzolo stayed on strongly to win going away by one and half lengths from his aforementioned stablemate back in second place.

A son of Monsun out of a group 2 winning dam in Pongee, Pinzolo cost 400,000gns at Tattersalls yearling sale last year and looks like developing into a high class colt come next season. He holds a derby entry for 2014 and could emulate former derby winner Motivator, who won this maiden back in 2004. Other notable winners of this maiden include the mighty Frankel.

Charlie Appleby, winning trainer went onto say, “Pinzolo is very much a horse for next year and we won’t rush him. The rain helped him and he will be a mile and a half horse next year.”

Lane’s second winner came aboard the Ralph Beckett trained Starlight Serenade (5/2f) in a class 5 2yo maiden over 7F at Salisbury on August 15th. Having just her second start in this 12 runner contest, the daughter of Three Valleys was coming here off the back of a good second on debut at this same track back in June.

Settled just behind the leaders off a moderate pace, Lane challenged the pacesetter Solo Hunter (9/2) to the outside well over two furlongs out. Both horses then proceeded to have a set two all the way home with Starlight Serenade showing a willing attitude to grind out a nose win after being headed well inside the final 100 yards.

Still looking very green she can now make her mark in Nurseries in future races. Ralph Beckett, winning trainer went onto say, “The second went half a length up on her but she is just green and certainly backward mentally which is why she hasn’t run for two months since her debut. She will take the nursery route now but there is a sales race which she gets into off nothing with Three Valley’s low median and that will be the fun end-of-term aim.”

OLD RELIABLE KENIRY CLOCKS IN A 152/1 WINDSOR DOUBLE

Killeagh flat jockey Liam Keniry is as reliable as a well-tuned clock when it comes to riding winners. He recorded a 152/1 double at Windsor for Ledbury trainer Ed De Giles on August 12th to take his 2013 total to 47.

The first leg of that double came with Croquembouche (8/1) in a class 3 handicap over 1m2F on faster than ideal ground conditions. Stepped back up in class and distance, this four year son of Acclamation took an early lead and set an even if not slowing pace in the hands of Keniry. Controlling the pace and now in prime position, Keniry kicked at the cross section over three furlongs out before joining the main straight back on the rail. Challenged and joined on the outside by race favourite Regal Silk (5/6f) at the two pole, it looked as if Croquembouche would succumb to that rival.

But Keniry wasn’t in the mood for second best and having saved precious energy by setting steady fractions, Croquembouche responded strongly to his urgings and went on to win by one and three quarter lengths at the line. The time of the race 2.04.93 was spot on standard and full credit goes to Keniry for riding the optimal pacesetting race.

Recording his fourth win from twenty starts, Croquembouche is a consistent and likable sort who can follow up again on this evidence. Liam Keniry, winning jockey went onto say, “This trip stretches Croquembouche a bit, so it helped to get a breather into him, and when he was challenged he had plenty left.”

Keniry and De Giles doubled up in the very next race when taking a class 5 handicap over 6F with Jinker Noble (16/1). Jumping well from the gate and dropping in just off the leaders, Jinker Noble making his seasonal debut, travelled keenly in the hands of Keniry up the inside rail. With the quicker pace helping his mount settle, Keniry had only one worry and that was getting a run. Stuck behind the two pacesetters with nowhere to go, Keniry switched his mount to the wide outside to challenge. With Generalyse (6/1) hitting the front one out and now looking the only horse to beat, Jinker Noble rallied to join that rival right on the line with nose down to win with a head to spare.

Recording his second win from thirteen starts, this four year old son of Green Desert had dropped to a very winnable mark of 70 here. Rated 82 in the past when trained by Clive Cox, he wasn’t winning out of turn and can follow up with a penalty in the near future.

FOUR OUT OF TEN FOR O’NEILL

Castletownroche native and trainer, Jonjo O’Neill recorded another four winners from his powerful Jackdaws yard in Cheltenham last week.

Running only ten horses in total last week, this wasn’t a bad return and with Tony McCoy riding out of his skin since becoming a father again, all bodes well for the winter season to come.

O’Neill recorded three winners on the same day, all ridden by McCoy. These were Temple Lord (7/2) and Don’t Be Late (6/5f), both winning at Worcester, with Listen And Learn (5/2jf) winning that evening at Stratford.

Finally, Mission Complete (5/4f) lived up to his name to complete the four-timer at Market Rasen on August 19th. O’Neill now moves onto the 46 winner mark for the 2013-14 jumps season.