SUNDAY'S MEETINGS:THE CLASH of tomorrow's cards at Cork and Galway may not please many, but it may work out for John Oxx, whose chances of a cross-country double are headed by Zarebiya in the bank holiday weekend Group Three feature.
That’s tomorrow’s €80,000 Give Thanks Stakes at the Mallow track, which has 11 starters, including Dermot Weld’s Sense Of Purpose.
Weld has enjoyed another fine Galway festival, but in the midst of a blizzard of winners he also made his feelings plain about the final day of the summer festival clashing with Cork’s Group Three card.
“It doesn’t make sense, especially when Galway is trying to get support, to divide what we have between two places on the same day,” Weld declared. “Cork have a top-class programme, but Galway also has some very good flat races on Sunday.”
However, Horse Racing Ireland director of racing Jason Morris yesterday defended the arrangement.
“In previous years, the Group Three and the Listed race were part of a mixed card on the Monday, but Cork got some stick from trainers last year due to two black-type races being run on ground which had had hurdle races run on it.
“So, Cork requested an all-flat card on the best of the ground on Sunday, and then a jump card on Monday, the same day as a predominantly flat card at Naas. We also moved Galway’s Premier Handicap to Saturday to allow the top flat jockeys race in a valuable handicap. There is a rationale to it,” Morris said.
The Give Thanks will certainly deflect some attention from the Ballybrit finale, and none more so than from Oxx. The Curragh trainer throws three at the race, and although Karasiyra is the one with Listed winning form – from Sense Of Purpose at Roscommon – Fran Berry’s decision to ride the once-raced Zerebiya looks significant.
The daughter of Galileo impressed at Leopardstown in June and any ease in the going ahead of tomorrow’s race should be to her advantage.
Aidan O’Brien and David Wachman are doubly represented, but the greatest danger to Zerebiya could be the ultra-consistent She’s Our Mark, who, in contrast to her Aga Khan-owned rival, will be having her 43rd career start.
The main supporting event at Cork is the Platinum Stakes which has attracted Mark Johnston’s Newmarket handicap winner St Moritz from Britain. St Moritz misses a valuable engagement at Goodwood for this, but this is a hot-looking Listed contest.
The idea that Gan Amhras would be running at this level when chasing home Sea The Stars in the 2,000 Guineas would have been laughable, but Jim Bolger’s horse has been hugely disappointing.
Famous boasts some Group One placed form herself, but her last start at the Curragh behind Latin Love was a massive let-down as she finished last. That had to be too bad to be true, and Mastercraftsman’s sister could be worth another chance.
The big Oxx hope at Galway will be Askeria, half-sister to Azamour and Arazan, who can secure a winning bracket at the second time of asking in the 12-furlong maiden.
Tipperary trainer David Marnane is considering appealing the controversial disqualification of Separate Ways at Galway on Thursday.
The Colm O’Donoghue-ridden horse finished half-a-length clear of Luttrell Lady in the Guinness Time Handicap but was placed second as the stewards considered Separate Ways had improved his position by causing interference to Luttrell Lady 100 yards from the line.
That decision came in for some criticism, and Marnane is weighing up whether to appeal to the Turf Club referrals committee.
“We have until Tuesday to appeal and I will discuss it with Andrew Coonan (solicitor,)” Marnane said yesterday. “It’s a pity, because there’s nothing like winning on the day.”
