Smart Newcomer Kicks Off Double For Westerner

The Sean Doyle-trained Love Envoi (5m Westerner - Love Divided, by King’s Ride) created a smart impression when making a winning debut in the Ballinaboola Mares Point-to-Point Flat Race at Wexford on Saturday.

Jamie Scallan rode the bay to track the leaders and was travelling strongly when leading between horses on the turn for home. Ridden approaching the final furlong, she kept on well to win by a length and three quarters from the favourite Miss Tempo (Milan), winner of a four-year-old mares maiden in November.

Speaking after the race, owner/trainer Doyle said, “Being by Westerner out of a King's Ride mare; I just loved the cross. She is a big mare for the future.”

Doyle trained Love Envoi’s half-sister Timeless Beauty (Yeats) to win her point-to-point, before selling her for £100,000. The pair were bred by Ciaran O’Toole out of useful point-to-pointer Love Divided.

Westerner enjoyed a quickfire double on the card when Crossgales Ophelia (7m Westerner - Mrs Kelly, by Supreme Leader) took the very next race, the first division of the Island Mares Point-to-Point Flat Race.

The Brendan Walsh-trained mare had not been seen since November 2019, when finishing third at Lisronagh, but was well-supported in the market on return. Racing towards the back of the field, she made good headway from five furlongs out and led after the two furlong marker. Shaken up a furlong later, she ran on well to score by three and a half lengths, as the first two finished 53 lengths clear of the third.

Walsh, who rode the winner and owns her with his wife Jenny, later said, “We thought a lot of this mare as a four-year-old.” His wife added, “We expected her to run well. It's a long time since she ran but she has always had ability and we kept the faith with her.”

Crossgales Ophelia was bred by Michael Heskin.