Sport

Front running double for Casey

Peter Casey had a day to remember at Fairyhouse on Saturday when saddling an 18 1/2 to 1 double with the front-running pair Star…

Mon Aug 23 1999 - 01:00

Peter Casey had a day to remember at Fairyhouse on Saturday when saddling an 18 1/2 to 1 double with the front-running pair Star Of Windsor and Common Kris.

Star Of Windsor is likely to go for the £150,000 Tattersalls Breeders Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday after making all for a decisive win under Stephen Crawford in the Nobber Maiden.

Local trainer Casey was also on the mark an hour later in the £10,000 Glascairn Handicap when Common Kris also made all for Fran Berry. The four-year-old, raised 12lb for an easy win at Roscommon earlier this month, drew clear over a furlong out to beat saving Bond by six lengths.

Aidan O'Brien and Mick Kinane teamed up to take the featured Belgrave Stakes with Oyster Catcher. The Bluebird filly led inside the final furlong for a length victory over the fast-finishing Rolo Tomasi.

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Hirapour opened his account in fine style when storming home by four and a half lengths in the Ratoath Maiden. Winning trainer John Oxx said: "I'd say there will be a fair bit of interest in him from the National Hunt boys. If he is still with me, the Cesarewitch is a possible target."

Pat Smullen was seen at his best aboard Marching Orders in the Skreen Maiden, driving the Nashwan colt up to touch off McCracken in the final stride.

Wannabe Grand, winner of last year's Group One Cheveley Park Stakes, opened her 1999 account in thrilling fashion under a stirring ride from Pat Eddery in the Flying Fillies' Stakes at Pontefract yesterday.

The £25,000 listed event over six furlongs is the richest racer run at the course, and it provided a spectacle to match with Wannabe Grand just getting the better of Pipalong after a sustained battle through the final furlong.

It had looked as if Pipalong has got first run on Wannabe Grand but winning trainer Jeremy Noseda said: "He (Eddery) let the other one go and that gave mine something to chase. As soon as she has nothing to chase she cuts out".

Eddery completed a treble on the Sean Woods-trained Evergreen Venture in the mile handicap and Desert Knight in the concluding mile maiden.