Gerry Kilfeather (35) has built up a rich association over the years with his local track and yesterday he recorded his 10th victory at Sligo when scoring on Bill Durkan's Coco Opera in the Strandhill Maiden Hurdle.
"That's my 40th career win and my first success for nearly three years - this place has been good to me," Kilfeather said. "I've been working with Bill Durkan for two years and I'm managing his stable outside Stepaside now. Hopefully I'll ride a few more winners." Warm favourite Mordon Boy, supported from 8 to 11 to 4 to 7, dropped out of contention down the back straight and J P McManus's gelding was later reported, "to have a sore shin and blowing hard".
Odds-on backers had no luck later in the Riverstown Rated Hurdle when the well-backed Ash Baloo was pulled up after the halfway stage. She was found to be lame post race after 14 to 1 shot Trade In and Shane McCann just got up to win in the dying stride. Barry Geraghty, who partnered Celtic Serenade into third, was deemed to have used his whip with excessive frequency and was banned for two days. Swiss native Alexandra Pereira forked out £10,500 to claim Kevin Prendergast's Reve De Nuit after she stormed home under Gordon `Flash' Power in the Cleveragh Claiming Race.
Meanwhile, Richard Quinn, still buoyed by the news that he is to take over as stable jockey for Henry Cecil next season, reached a seasonal century for the seventh time in eight years at Brighton yesterday.
Win number 99 came with 9-4 favourite Smart Ridge, who led over a furlong out to beat Morning Dawn by six lengths in the opening Courage Top Club Nursery.
Quinn had his 100th winner of the year on Ajig Dancer (7-1) in the Strongbow Classified Stakes. The filly led inside the final furlong to beat Swell Betty by three-quarters of a length. Quinn clinched a treble for Jeff Pearce on board 9-4 favourite Children's Choice in the Guinness Draught Selling Handicap. The mare hit the front inside the final furlong to score by a length and a quarter from Frozen Sea.
Quinn wound up his great day when 1 to 6 favourite Zigere, trained by Clive Brittain, made all in the Blackthorn Dry Maiden Stakes to score by 14 lengths from California Son.
