Taken seeking Listed gold
Saturday 22 November 2014
County Antrim trainer Stuart Crawford takes the wraps off exciting mare Twentytwo’s Taken in the Listed ITBA Fillies Scheme EBF Mares INH Flat Race at Navan on Sunday.
The six-year-old daughter of King’s Theatre is unbeaten in two bumper outings, the first of which was landed by 10 lengths at Down Royal over Christmas last year.
A subsequent victory at Fairyhouse in February stamped her class and, buoyed by the excellent run of Montana Belle to finish second in a similar race at Cheltenham last weekend, Crawford is ready to test another talented mare at a higher level.
He said: “She seems in good form and it was always the plan to start her off in either this race or at Cheltenham last week. Just with the way things worked out we had another mare to go to Cheltenham, so we waited for this weekend with her.
“We had planned to run her at Aintree in the spring, but unfortunately she got a cold the week before, so that was that.
“She arguably has the leading bumper form of any mare. The form of her Down Royal win has worked out well. The horse that was 10 lengths second to her, Some Plan, has come out and won impressively for Roger Brookhouse and I know Paddy Brennan is excited by him.
“We’ll get Sunday out of the way. The aim is to pick up a bit of black type. She’s a six-year-old so she’ll be going hurdling soon. This race is a nice opportunity.She’s straight enough and ready to go, though obviously she’ll come on for the run.
“We’ve had a few mares who have won three or four bumpers for us and you’d have to say on what she’s done so far, this mare has been as impressive as any of them.”
Colin McBratney is another northern raider heading south to Navan.The Crossgar-based handler runs Killultagh Sarah who has placed bumper form to her name.
“She’s not a bad filly. She was second at Down Royal and Katie (Walsh) liked her. She wants soft ground so she has been held up because of the ground,” McBratney said.
“We have to start somewhere. The track will suit her and I’m hoping she will run respectably.She jumps well, she’s a half sister to Killultagh Vic and she has a bright future.”
Willie and Patrick Mullins were successful 12 months ago with Shesafoxylady and are this year represented by Lyrical Theatre.
The five-year-old won by 20 lengths on her racecourse introduction at Sligo and although she disappointed when favourite at Galway the following month, she bounced back in style at Naas a month ago.
Mullins jnr told At The Races: “Her performance in Naas was very good. Naas bumpers are good and fair, she won 10 lengths and she goes to Navan with a big chance.She worked well on Thursday.”
Willie Austin’s mare Emcon was well on top when striking at Cork three weeks ago and the trainer expects his charge to relish the likely testing conditions.
He said: “She’s been in good form since her last run and we’re expecting a good show.She’ll handle the ground, which is a big thing. She likes the softer ground and it gets very heavy in Navan. A lot of them might not handle it, but she will.
“It looks a very good race, but we’ll give it a good go and it would be nice if she can pick up a bit of black type.Another year under her belt won’t do her any harm.”
Noel Meade is double-handed, with Nina Carberry partnering the unraced Bonny Kate and Jason McKeown booked for narrow Wexford winner Josephine Marcus.
The Tinker Molly graduates to the track having won a point-to-point at Loughanmore, while John Ryan’s Limerick winner Presenting Mahler is another with claims.
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