Super Sunday For Walk In The Park

Grange Stud sire Walk In The Park enjoyed a successful Sunday, when siring the top lot at Tattersalls Ireland and the first two winners at Cork.

Top lot status on the second day of the November NH Sale was awarded to Thistletown Stud’s Walk In The Park colt foal out of black-type performer Poppy Kay. Frannie Woods of Abbeylands Farm outbid Kieran Shields at €52,000, but the underbidder later found reward with another son of Walk In The Park, for whom he gave €47,000.

Meanwhile, at Cork, the Gavin Cromwell-trained newcomer Inothewayurthinkin (4g Walk In The Park - Sway, by Califet) made a perfect start in the opening maiden hurdle under Mark Walsh.

Well-supported in the market, the bay raced prominently throughout and led from the second last. Shaken up approaching the final flight, he kept on well to beat the favourite by a length and three quarters.

“Inothewayurthinkin did that well,” Walsh later commented. “He was a bit green but he's a lovely horse.” Owned by JP McManus and bred by Mrs Noreen McManus, Inothewayurthinkin is a full-brother to the yard’s dual winner Limerick Lace (Walk In The Park).

Gavin Cromwell won the next race, the mares maiden hurdle, with another promising newcomer in La Malmason (4f Walk In The Park - Sparky May, by Midnight Legend).

Keith Donoghue took the ride, positioned the bay behind the leaders for much of the two and a half mile contest and produced her to lead at the third last. Ridden from the penultimate flight, she kept on strongly on the run-in to win by three parts of a length, the field strung out behind them.

“Her work has been very good, we thought she might win today,” the winning rider later revealed. Owned by Alymer Stud, La Malmason was bred by Ruxley Holdings.