Grade 3 Win Adds To Fine Day For Walk In The Park

As buyers dug deep for his progeny at the Tattersalls Cheltenham February Sale, Walk In The Park sired his latest black-type winner at Thurles, where Sa Fureur (6g Walk In The Park - Ma Furie, by Balleroy) completed a hat-trick of wins in the Grade 3 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott’s charge was sent off favourite for the two and a half mile contest following back-to-back wins at Punchestown, with Jordon Gainford taking the ride for the first time on Thursday. Racing in touch, he was pushed along to challenge two from home and soon joined the leader. Pushed out, he kept on well to prevail by a short head, with the front pair finishing three and a quarter lengths clear of the third.

Speaking after the race, Gainford said, “My horse stuck his head out, though, and had jumped the last two well, which is very important. He is a nice big strong horse, will fill out more and get even better.”

Owned by Caldwell Construction, Sa Fureur was bred by the Honourable Mrs VMA Tower and is a half-brother to Grade 2 performer Sandymount Rose (Yeats).

It marked a double on the card for Grange Stud sire Walk In The Park, with Union Park (Walk In The Park) having taken the preceding race, while Aubis Walk (7m Walk In The Park - Aubisquinette, by Cadoudal) kicked off an across the card treble for her sire at Sedgefield.

Runner-up on her first two starts over hurdles, the Nicky Richards-trained bay was sent off favourite for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle over two and a half miles. Tracking the leader under Brian Hughes, she led before two out and was soon pushed clear, going on to score by 23 lengths.

Aubis Walk is owned by Kenneth Alexander, with Peter Molony having bought the daughter of Walk In The Park for £120,000 following her easy win for Donnchadh Doyle. She was bred by M Dumont, Haras du Ma and B Danielle.