Trio Of Point-To-Point Maiden Winners For Westerner

Westerner enjoyed a fine weekend between the flags, with well-related newcomer The Big Westerner (5m Westerner – Augusta Bay, by Oscar) one of three point-to-point maiden winners for the Castlehyde Stud sire.

The Matthew Flynn O’Connor owned and trained mare was well-supported ahead of the mares’ maiden at Ballycahane and chased the leaders for much of the way under Brian Lawless. Taking closer order with three to jump, she joined the long-time leader and favourite at the second last, before asserting at the final fence. She kept on to score by two lengths, with the front pair finishing 12 lengths clear of the remainder.

At Tyrella the previous day, the Gordon Elliott-trained Ocean Brew (5m Westerner – Diorissima, by Sholokhov) led home a 1-2 for Coolmore NH sires in the five and six-year-old mares’ maiden.

The Westerner mare had been sent off favourite on debut in January and was in front when falling at the final fence. Sent off favourite once again on Saturday, she tracked the leaders under Harry Swan and was ridden from the second last. Disputing as they approached the straight, she kept on well on the run-in to beat Annie Don (Yeats) by a neck.

Ocean Brew is owned by the Crocodile Pockets Syndicate and was bred by John Mounsey.

Simply The Bestone (5g Westerner – Maid Of Malabar, by Oscar Schindler) completed a treble for his sire when carrying breeder Conor Murphy’s silks to success at Bandon on Sunday.

Michael Kennedy’s improving charge was last seen finishing a close second at Nenagh and was sent off favourite to go one better under Johnny Barry. Racing prominently throughout, he asserted from the second last and went on to win by all of 18 lengths.