Up 4lb for a narrow defeat at the Curragh on Sunday, progressive three-year-old Kendall Roy spearheaded a tremendous 1-2 for trainer Katie McGivern in the Doneraile Handicap in Cork. Ridden by Declan McDonogh, the 5-2 favourite raced prominently throughout and held off stablemate So Majestic (Chris Hayes) by a length and a quarter. The winning trainer explained, “I felt sorry for Chris (Hayes), having to choose between them, but I fancied both horses.
“That’s the way Kendall Roy needs to be ridden. He’s a lazy horse and gets fat and gross. Declan was on the ball — he bounced him out and kept him up to his work.
“He’s entered for Goodwood next week, but I’m not sure about that. He’ll tell us when he’s sick of racing for the season and looks a real next year horse.” Successful on debut in Dundalk but disappointing twice since and gelded since his last run, the Michael O’Callaghan-trained Morning Vietnam (Seamus Heffernan), 16-1 outsider of the four runners, readily turned over favourite Lethimfly in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated 2-Y-0 Race.
“We’ve always liked him, but he can be a bit highly-strung,” explained O’Callaghan. “He didn’t have a hard race the first day and formed an apprehension about racing. We decided to geld him and the lads at home have done a great job with him.
“He’s very big and we’ll be in no rush. He’s a beautiful mover and loves fast ground. He’s potentially a good horse and could develop into a nice sprin.