'The horse was super and Rachael was super' - Hanlon full of praise for old ally
Saturday: Galway
What a week it has been at Ballybrit for Shark Hanlon, and how fitting it was that Rachael Blackmore was there to share in some of it.
The history making rider partnered Hallowed Star to a comprehensive success in the feature Grade B BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle as the trainer nabbed his second big handicap of the week following Hewick in Wednesday's Galway Plate.
Blackmore began her career with Hanlon, and while the main doubt with Annette Mee's Hallowed Star was whether he would see out the near 2m7f trip, she rode him as though stamina were the least of his issues. She let him bowl along from early, kicked on at the second-last, and the son of Sea The Stars extended his advantage to the line to score by 17 lengths.
Hanlon had no doubts either, saying: "Everyone was saying he had no chance at the trip, but I told Rachael going out, he won't stop!
"The horse was super and Rachael was super. He was keen in her hands and she had the brains to let him roll on, she was great on him as she is on them all.
"She rode one of her first winners at Galway here in the Mee colours, and it's great to have her back winning in these colours. She was in my yard as a young girl and she was the most dedicated worker I ever had.
"She has never let the side down and she has done all of the hard work herself. She doesn't need to praise me or anyone else for the roles they have played in her rise, all she needs to do is praise herself."
He added: "We have only a small yard and to be coming out of Galway with two of the feature races is unreal, and I have to thank the staff. Without them, I would be no-one. These are tough times and expensive times, but to every small trainer out there, I would say to keep at it, because you'll get there."
The victory completed a double in the opening two races for the Mee family after Merlin Giant landed the opening maiden hurdle for Emmet Mullins and Donagh Meyler.
Murphy strikes again
For Fethard trainer Joe Murphy, it has been an outstanding couple of days as he and rider Gary Carroll followed the victory of Sionnach Eile in Friday evening's feature with the front-running success of Pandora Lovegood in the valuable nursery.
The daughter of Fast Company once again relished the underfoot conditions, making all to hold off the persistent Goa Gajah by a length with Ard Mhacha a similar distance away in third.
Pandora Lovegood holds an entry in the Group 2 Debutante Stakes in three weeks and Murphy said: "She's a very genuine filly and is probably 7lb better on soft ground. She's improving all the time and I think she'll be a much better three-year-old. We'll see how she comes out of this before deciding whether to go for the Debutante."
Poignant success for Bolgers
After a fine run on Monday evening when he finished third on his debut, the Jim Bolger-trained Serious Challenge had too many guns for the odds-on Hiawatha in the mile juvenile maiden, going on close home to score by three-quarters of a length under Kevin Manning.
It was a victory tinged with sadness for the family, as Bolger's daughter and assistant Una Manning revealed her uncle and Jim's brother Paddy Bolger had died earlier in the day.
She said: "Paddy ran the foaling and the stud farm operation for my father down in Wexford, assisted by his son Ken and his wife Marguerite, and it is poignant. Uncle Paddy always came to Galway and had a winner in his colours here [Cool And Clever] on this day last year.
"The run earlier in the week certainly stood to Serious Challenge today. We like him a lot. He's entered in the Futurity at the Curragh and that is probably the plan. Dad thinks we won't see the best of him until next year."
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