Joanna Morgan has enjoying a good year with her mixed team near Ballivor in Co. Meath, and Lough Gem provided her with the biggest pay-day of the season when capturing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Premier Nursery.
The Mujadil gelding, who cost just 1,050, was recording a second victory for his syndicate owners and bringing his prize-money total to over 40,000 euro as Rory Cleary had him prominent throughout to beat Sky High Flyer by half a length.
'My horses have been running well all year, and this fellows heart is in the right place,' said Ms Morgan, who has now saddled 11 winners on the Flat as well as a number over jumps this year. She added, 'He's such a laid back character that I thought he was useless. He was gelded in April and, on reflexion, that seemed to take alot out of him.'
However Cathy Gannon is still well on course to become the first female champion apprentice as she mainatined her decisive lead over Cleary when taking the concluding Go Golfing At Gowran Handicap on Edaliya.
Pat Smullen partnered a double highlighted by the impressive maiden win of Etijahaat in the mile two-year-old event. The 11/8 (from 2/1) favourite stretched clear from the furlong pole, and Smullen could afford to ease him down in the closing stages to beat Conquistadores by four and a half lengths.
'That's it for this season and hopefully he will make up into a good stakes performer next year, although he will always want better ground,' said Dermot Weld's son Mark.
Sigourney (16/1 & paid 27.90 on the Tote) was the unconsidered bottom-weight in the Dunphy's Centra Foodstore Thomastown Handicap but belied her lack of market confidence with a clear-cut success. Smullen again had an easy time in the final furlong as the five-year-old drew clear to beat Lake Andre by three and a half lengths.
Kevin Manning, fresh from his Group 1 success on Alexander Goldrun at Longchamp on Sunday, was seen to good effect aboard Hestia in the two-year-old seven furlong maiden. The daughter of Machiavellian traveled nicely close to the pace but needed a strong drive from Manning in the closing stages to just touch off newcomer Macduff.
The Coolcullen trainer indicated that she is unlikely to run again this year, while he is also hoping to get an invitation for Alexander Goldrun to run in Hong Kong.
John Oxx and Michael Kinane, narrowly denied in the opener with Macduff, went one better with another debutante when Josette took division one of the seven furlong maiden in good style. The Danehill filly was produced on the outer by Kinane approaching the final furlong, and quickened up nicely to beat Show Blessed by two and a half lengths.
'She is a nice filly with a very good pedigree but has been held up with a number of problems including a chipped bone when ready to run last year. We could run her in the Listed Garnet Stakes over a mile at Naas (October 17), and that may tell us whether to keep her in training next year,' said Oxx.
There was a terrific finish to division two and, after three horses flashed past the post, the judge eventually revealed that Jamie Spencer's mount The Castles had out-pointed Pulitser and Precipitous by two short-heads. 'She's been unlucky a few times but is a tough little thing and loves soft ground. We will probably try her in a handicap now,' said trainer Joe Crowley's daughter Angela.
Alan Magee
