Debut Winner Continues Soldier Of Fortune’s Fine Run
Kalo Athena (5m Soldier Of Fortune – Poly Kalo, by Kalanisi) dug deep to make a winning debut in Sunday’s mares’ maiden at Tattersalls.
The Colin Bowe-trained mare was one of three well-supported newcomers to line up for the five and six-year-old mares maiden, and was settled in midfield by Barry O’Neill. Improving into third before the penultimate fence, she rallied on the run-in to lead by a length and a quarter on the line.
Owned and bred by Patrick Fortune, she became Soldier Of Fortune’s third maiden winner of the weekend.
At Loughanmore the previous day, Cherry Brave (5m Soldier Of Fortune – Delta Forty, by Alflora) won in good style at the second time of asking.
The Noel Kelly-trained chesnut was narrowly denied on debut last month and was sent off favourite to go one better under Oran McGill. Positioned in midfield, she began to make headway from two out and improved to lead before the last. She ran on well on the run-in to win by four lengths, with another nine and a half lengths back to the third.
Owned by Lindsay Woods and bred by Thomas Mulhern, Cherry Brave provides a timely update for her full-brother selling at next month’s Goffs UK Spring Store Sale.
The final race on the card saw Cresthill (6g Soldier Of Fortune – Fashion Target, by Broken Hearted) provide Cormac Abernethy with his first winner as a handler. Placed on two previous occasions for Colin Bowe, the Wilson Dennison-owned bay battled back on the run-in to win by a length under Derek O’Connor.
The improving Soldier Of Fortune gelding was bred by Mrs Deborah Hobson.