Trio Of Impressive Weekend Winners For Flemensfirth
The Colin Bowe-trained Cool Dove (5m Flemensfirth - Lonesome Dove, by Milan) produced a taking performance to gain her second win in three starts at Turtulla on Sunday.
Successful on debut at Cragmore last month, she was reunited with Barry O’Neill and led before the second last, running home strongly to lead by 12 lengths on the line, as her co-favourite took second.
Owned by Maurice Mariga and bred by Cathal Mariga, the daughter of Flemensfirth is out of a winning half-sister to Irish Grand National hero Thunder And Roses, dual Graded winner Shirley Casper and Kerry National victor Wrath Of Titans (Oscar).
Meanwhile, over at Gowran Park, Minella Melody (5m Flemensfirth - Cottage Theatre, by King’s Theatre) followed up on her impressive point-to-point maiden win to take the bumper by 12 lengths.
Purchased privately from John Nallen after her Boulta victory, she now carries the colours of Kenneth Alexander and was sent off favourite under Paddy Mullins. Ridden in mid-division, she made good headway to lead over three furlongs from home and extended her advantage with ease to 12 lengths on the line.
"She won a point-to-point well in Boulta and she looked really nice on the day. We were very fortunate to get her, and I’m delighted with that."
A €65,000 store purchase, Minella Melody was bred by Micheal and Ciara Carty of Kilmoney Cottage Stud and is a half-sister to bumper winner Forty One Winks (Getaway).
Another to record an impressive success over the weekend was the Emma Lavelle-trained Fontsanta (6g Flemensfirth - Day’s over, by Overbury), who appreciated a step up in trip in the Novices’ Hurdle at Hereford.
A bumper winner on debut last January, the Tim Syder-owned bay was racing over three miles for the first time and was held up by Aidan Coleman. Making good headway from the third last, he led after the next and soon drew clear, scoring by 11 lengths on the bridle.
Bred by David Reynolds and Edward Spellman, he too was sold by Kilmoney Cottage Stud, though this time as a pinhook, for €110,000 to Aiden Murphy.