After some near misses in major races, Black Queen fulfilled her potential in yesterday's Guinness Galway Hurdle by winning a prestigious handicap.
The John Kiely-trained mare produced her customary late finishing kick to beat Tidjani by four and a half lengths with Shantarini back in third. However, with a circuit to go, if you didn't know Black Queen's temperament, it appeared that her chance was as near to non-existent as makes no difference.
Black Queen had only one behind her as Kinnescash and Magical Lady figured prominently at the front. That left 21 to pass but Shay Barry's cool big race temperament was proved with a Thyestes Chase win last winter and he still had any number of cards to play.
The mare, owned by German businessman Heinz Pollmeier, has been in similar positions in the past and not quite got there. Barry, who secured the ride at the weekend after Kiely wasn't sure if the weights would rise sufficiently to allow Tony O'Brien take the mount, timed it to perfection and was in position A as Tidjani went for home in the dip.
"It suits that mare to have a target," said Tidjani's owner JP McManus ruefully and so it proved. Tidjani didn't flatter but Black Queen's progress was seemingly destined to be uninterrupted.
"I was well out the back but was happy enough. I watched the videos of her races and knew she likes to be ridden like that. After the gallop they went, I felt they'd tie up," said Barry while Kiely added: "We always hoped she'd win a big handicap and the plan was to come late."
"No excuses," said Tidjani's trainer Frank Berry while Shantarini's brave effort to add this prize to Monday's GPT earned praise from Shane Donohoe. "I'm over the moon with him. We missed out on the bonus but he's earned £35,000 all told and only cost £6,000 so he owes us nothing."
The English-trained Hoh Express fell at the first and brought down One More Spin leaving rider Barry Fenton with fractured ribs and a possible fractured sternum.
Musical Mayhem won his second race of the week and gave Dermot Weld his seventh when easily landing the novice hurdle. Musical Mayhem was also Richard Dunwoody's first winner back after injury and could make an even bigger name for himself if he can land his autumn target of the English Cesarewitch.
"He's eligible for the Sun Alliance Hurdle at Cheltenham and there won't be many better than him there," said Weld who praised the horse who has won seven and been second three times in his 10 races in Ireland.
Weld's Style Parade was a heavily backed favourite to win the fillies maiden but was done with coming out of the dip as Mattiocco kept up a good gallop to beat Baniyka by three lengths. "She's a half sister to Matiya and I wouldn't be surprised if she stays in training next year," said Aidan O'Brien.
Quinze was a very sick horse after running at Cheltenham last March but returned with a bang when easily landing the Smithwicks Handicap for Pat Hughes and John Murtagh.
"He was very low with some kind of a virus and we thought he was on the way out at one stage," said Hughes will keep Quinze to hurdles but admitted: "He's going to make a helluva chaser."
A course record crowd of just under 29,000 invested a new national Tote record of £748,197 yesterday, beating the previous record of £662,797 set at this year's Derby. Bookmaker turnover was up £460,000 to a total of £1,509,201 which was a course record for Galway.
Ken Whelan is likely to make the Irish jockeys team for the series in Australia despite injurying an arm on Wednesday. "He needs twice daily physio but should be clear to go," said the Turf Club's Dr Walter Halley. The Medical Officer also reported that Adrian Maguire could return to action tomorrow after having a heavy fall in Wednesday's Galway Plate.
