Dermot Weld made racing history at Naas yesterday when reaching a record total of winners with the success of Georgia Peach in the Victory Note EBF Maiden. The victory of Georgia Peach was only confirmed after a protracted stewards' inquiry. The son of Pennekamp was given a strong drive by Shanahan to lead 100 yards out for a half-length verdict over Factice Royal, with the gambled-on Brief Affair (16/1 to 7/1) just a neck back in third.
The inquiry was held into possible interference between the first four, with the head-on camera showing that Factice Royal swerved right in the closing stages onto the favourite Flamelight, who finished fourth. Declan McDonogh, rider of Factice Royal, was given a three-day suspension (Aug 16th-18th) for careless riding.
Shanahan later completed a double when the Con Collins-trained Imperial Light justified odds-on support with a workmanlike two-lengths defeat of Knight's Place in the Owenstown Stud F F Tuthill Maiden. Collins was also in double form, having saddled Greengage to take the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Series Maiden. The Green Desert filly was capably handled by Eoin Dowling, and provided the 18-year-old Kilkenny apprentice with his first winner.
Meanwhile, the Aidan O'Brien-trained Shakespeare returned to winning ways in the featured Sri Pekan Platinum Stakes at Cork yesterday. Partnered by Michael Kinane, Shakespeare bounced away smartly and wasn't troubled to contain Islandagore by a length .
" The blinkers helped him to concentrate and he has loads of pace . He will now go for the Royal Whip Stakes at The Curragh later on this month ", commented O'Brien . This was O'Brien and Kinane's second winner as they had earlier taken the two-year-old maiden with the well-bred newcomer Black Minnalouche, who had little difficulty in justifying 4 to 6 favouritism .
Kinane went on to pilot a three-timer, as he won the 10-furlong handicap on Declan Gillespie's Persian King. Ballinarrid went off favourite in the three-mile maiden Hurdle, but was beaten three lengths by the Paul Moloney-ridden Cross The Suir .
Trained by Christy Roche, Cross The Suir carries the colours of than Sir Peter O'Sullevan.
