'He's the horse of a lifetime, you couldn't write it the fun we've got out of him' - owner-breeder reaps rich reward with Dunum

All of 37 years after riding his first winner as an apprentice and just a couple of weeks after turning 53, Seamie Heffernan combined with a similarly redoubtable stalwart in Dunum to finally secure a dramatic breakthrough win in the COLM QUINN BMW Mile.

A Galway specialist who could bid to repeat his 2023 Ahonoora success on Sunday, Dunum was snaring his third win at the summer gala having just been run out of it late on when third in this €120,000 showpiece in 2023. He recovered from a slow start to make all under Heffernan, always a dangerous man if left to dictate the fractions. 

Nicola Burns, 36 years Heffernan's junior, brought Bear Profit with a late, lunging thrust down the outside, but Dunum would not be denied. He prevailed by a head, with a couple of lengths back to Orandi in third.

The win was the most lucrative of trainer Natalia Lupini's career. A native of Milan now based in Banbridge, County Down, Lupini's partner Craig Bryson had for years worked alongside Heffernan in Ballydoyle, so this was one for an old firm of sorts.

Heffernan farmed 36 Group or Grade 1s during his long tenure with Aidan O'Brien and there were Classics aplenty, but he enjoyed this more intimate high.

"I am running out of time so it was nice to win it," he said after collecting on the 12-1 shot, who has never been out of the first three in five starts at Ballybrit. "He's a legend of a horse who handles this track extremely well, and I am delighted I got the nod to ride him from Craig and Natalia. 

Of his longevity, Heffernan added: "I'm still loving the game. Irish jockeys have to hold their own, they ride tight and don't give an inch away. It's not a case of, 'After you', but I'm still enjoying it and getting great support." 

A homebred whose owner Maurice Burns had to bring back unsold from the sales as a youngster at a mere €2,800, Dunum's career earnings now stand at around €260,000.

"I hurt my back on Saturday so I'm lucky to be here," said Burns. "But I was coming in a wheelchair, whatever I could do. 

"I took him as a foal to the sales at Goffs and I rang Michael [McCartan, co-breeder] and said that I liked the horse and everyone else seems to like him so if he doesn't make his €3,000 reserve we'll take him home. They only went to €2,800, luckily enough. He's the horse of a lifetime, you couldn't write it the fun we've got out of him."

Lupini said: "He comes alive at this track and Seamie gave him a peach of a ride. He usually jumps smart and Seamie didn't want to give away his position. The horse enjoyed himself, he loves the downhill into the dip and the uphill finish. 

"He battled well, it's brilliant. We'll see how he is later in the week and decide whether he runs in the Ahonoora on Sunday so we might see him back here. He's a Galway specialist."

Surprise plan

There was a surprise in the 2m½f Listed Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle when the outsider of the seven-strong field, Sticktotheplan, overcame in-running traffic under Ricky Doyle to run out a cosy two-and-a-quarter-length winner over Vicar Street at odds of 22-1.

Sticktotheplan: caused an upset at GalwayCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Trained by Cormac Farrell, the five-year-old was always highly thought of and formed the second leg of a considerable gamble at Fairyhouse in February, when a beaten 11-10 favourite in a bumper after Great Attitude had won earlier on the card.

He got off the mark over obstacles at Listowel in May before finishing runner-up to the reopposing Timeless Treaty at Punchestown last month, but turned around that form emphatically here under a cool ride from Doyle.

Held up in last throughout, the winner was behind a wall of horses jumping the last, but shot up the inside once 7-4 favourite La Note Verte began to backtrack and scored comfortably.

"We fancied him as we've always thought he was a very smart horse," said Farrell. "It has taken time for the penny to drop and learn how to race correctly. His jumping has come together and he has a huge future.

"I tried to sell him on several occasions, but nobody would buy him so I'm delighted, as I'll be properly paid for him at some stage! I'm a big fan of him and he's a very exciting horse. That ground is as good as he'd want – he handles heavy."

Deserved win for King

King Of Kingsfield got his head in front for the first time since his maiden hurdle success in December 2023, when he picked off 6-4 favourite My Great Mate inside the final furlong to run out a cosy three-and-three-quarter-length winner of the 2m2f Latin Quarter Beginners Chase under Jack Kennedy.

King Of Kingsfield on his way to victory on his chase debutCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

The seven-year-old, sent off at 7-2, was on pacemaking duties for stablemate Brighterdaysahead at Leopardstown and Cheltenham last season and finished fourth in a conditions hurdle at Cork last time out. But he got back on track on his second start over fences here, having finished runner-up to Down Memory Lane, also from the Gordon Elliott stable, on his chase debut in November and chasing will be his job for the immediate future.

"He had a couple of hard races last season, but I was delighted with the ground and Jack gave him a beautiful ride," said Elliott. "It was probably a bit unfair he had to do the donkey work for Brighterdaysahead last season, but he'll jump fences now and we'll have fun with him. 

"I don't think he wants winter-heavy ground, but there's plenty of nice races for him."

Pivotal impressive

Joe Murphy, who has stable star Cercene to look forward to in the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Thursday, looks to have another smart filly on his hands after Pivotal Attack created a big impression when streaking four and a quarter lengths clear in the 7f maiden under Gary Carroll.

The 9-2 chance finished an encouraging fifth on her debut at Fairyhouse 20 days ago and she relished the extra furlong here, powering clear of 5-4 favourite Amelia Earhart.

"Our filly was very professional, she relaxed and when he asked her, she quickened," said Murphy. "I think we have a nice filly going forward. She is out of a Pivotal mare and we think she is Stakes class."

Coin Collects

There was another impressive maiden winner as the Jessica Harrington-trained Collecting Coin justified 6-5 favouritism in style in the 7f Caulfield Industrial Maiden, thundering three lengths clear in the hands of Shane Foley to collect at the third attempt.

Assistant Kate Harrington said: "He is a lovely horse, we've always thought an awful lot of him and he was shrewdly bought by Patrick [Cooper] from the John Dance dispersal sale last February.

"He misbehaved at the Curragh and Cork earlier in the year so we gelded him since and he behaved impeccably today. He did what he was supposed to do and is a lovely horse going forward. We'll plot our way through the season as he is ground-versatile."

Snow breezes in

The magic of Ballybrit was on full display as restricted trainer Peter Lawlor saddled his first winner at Galway when Summer Snow landed the 7f caulfieldindustrial.com Handicap under Rory Cleary by a length to Apache Outlaw.

Having had her first run for the Wicklow stable in April rated 68, she's been a wonderful advertisement for Lawlor, who now has ten winners since taking out his licence in 2020, landing two handicaps this year at Leopardstown and Down Royal before topping it off with this authoritative victory at Galway at odds of 8-1.

The elated trainer said: "You only dream of these things. We were very confident coming down of a good run. I'm a restricted trainer and have had my licence four years. She's been tearing up the gallops at home and to win, you can't expect it up against the big guns. 

"I've always been breaking and pretraining and giving away my horses. I just had too many and couldn't give them away. Pat [Kelly, owner] gave her to me when she was rated 68 and she was rated 81 today. She's going through the ranks."

After an eight per cent increase from last year on day one of Galway, crowds slightly dipped for day two with 13,306 racegoers filing in compared to 13,680 12 months ago.

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