Newmarket trainer George Scott made the trip across the Irish sea a worthwhile one by taking the Kellihers Toyota Kingdom Gold Cup, the most valuable race on Friday’s Flat programme in Killarney, with the classy Prydwen. The winner, the second leg of a double for jockey Wayne Hassett, was giving weight to all of his rivals but the 107-rated six-year-old made light of the task. Winner of the valuable All-Weather Championships Marathon Handicap earlier in the year, he is all about stamina, and it showed as he took the lead over a furlong out and pulled away in great style to beat Vero Verto and Lot Of Joy.
The winning trainer, who enjoyed Royal Ascot success with Isle Of Jura, said: “It’s my first runner in Ireland but one of his part-owners, Keith Breen, is an Irishman and has a house in Cork, so has been pestering me to have a runner. “The world is a small place now and it is very important to travel horses and find the most appropriate races. To come to a beautiful track like this is a privilege, although it was a mission to get here.
“It took 18 hours for the horse to get here but, for a nervous horse, he was great. We want to travel with him during the winter, so it was a good test. “The lads came over with the horse a couple of days ago and did a great job.
He trained on the track both days and enjoyed it.” The first leg of Hassett’s 96.5-1 double came in the first division of the GAIN The Advantage Series Handicap aboard Sprint Collection, trained by Harry Kelly.
One Look bounced back to winning ways with a fine performance in the listed Irish Stallion Farms Irish EBF Vincent O’Brien Ruby Stakes. The Paddy Twomey-trained filly, who made such an impression when racing away with the Goffs Million on her only start at two, made a winning return but was beaten on her next three starts. Last time out, however, she ran on strongly to finish second in a listed race won by Wingspan, and with that run suggesting she was on the way back to her best, she duly took another step forward.
It wasn’t straightforward, as she had a whole host of runners in front of her as she turned for home, but when Billy Lee switched her wide and asked for maximum effort, she responded generously to claim a one-length victory over Princess Child. There was an exciting finish to the opener, in which Wesley Joyce got the Michael Mulvany-trained Sunriseontheboyne up in the final strides to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery. In the Tote.
ie Rated Race, the Noel Meade-trained Monasterboice completed his hat-trick with a typically game display. Colin Keane had him in front rank from the outset and when he was joined, and briefly headed by Four Blondes, he battled back to score by half a length. Nibras Rainbow, trained by Paul Flynn and ridden by Leigh Roche, secured his first success in this country when taking the second leg of the Gain The Advantage Series Handicap.
Twice a winner in Britain, on this occasion he was never far off the pace and dug in deep to deny the game Shoot To Kill. Keithen Kennedy rode his 21st winner of the season when guiding Jabbar to victory in the Brehon Hotel And Spa Apprentice Handicap. Riding for Ger O’Leary, he took his time early, delivered his challenge from two out, and rode Jabbar clear close home to give the horse a fifth win in 15 starts.
What a fantastic horse Seddon is, and when the 11-year-old, trained by John McConnell and ridden by Harry Swan, made all the running to win the Tote Never Beaten By SP Qualified Riders’ Race it was his fifth win for his current connections, and tenth career victory in 35 starts..
