Declan McDonogh and Kevin Prendergast have teamed up to great effect this season, and both have broken through the 50 winner barrier this weekend.
McDonogh was in double form on the opening session of Galway's two-day Bank Holiday meeting including a victory on the Prendergast-trained Imperial Brief. The veteran Curragh trainer reached the half century landmark for the year with Imperial Brief in the opening two-year-old auction race. The gelding found plenty when asked to quicken in the straight by McDonogh, and drew clear in the closing stages to beat Zelkova by a length and a half.
McDonogh moved onto the 52-winner mark in this his best ever season when Riverboatman took the mile and a half handicap in convincing fashion. The dual purpose gelding was prominent throughout and stretched clear inside the final quarter mile to beat Sunshine Guest by seven lengths.
"He may go for another handicap at Leopardstown next Sunday but the main aim is a Grade Three hurdle at Fairyhouse on November 27th and then on to the Dennys," said trainer Frances Crowley.
Ladyjackline proved a popular local winner of the seven-furlong maiden, finishing with a real flourish under Chris Geoghegan to just deny top-weight Incline in the final stride.
Ballinrobe publican Michael Flannery recorded the most significant win of his training career when Miss Lauren Dee made all in the €50,000 Galway City Tribune Handicap Hurdle under a well-judged ride by Steve Ryder. The eight-year-old mare stayed on strongly in the straight to beat Out The Gap by two and a half lengths.
