RACING:FRAN BERRY took full advantage of the absence of Johnny Murtagh and Pat Smullen to notch a near 150 to 1 hat-trick at Leopardstown yesterday and rekindle his hopes of becoming champion jockey for the first time.
With just seven Dundalk fixtures left before the season ends next month, Berry is now on 83 winners, one behind Murtagh who was in Group One-winning action in France yesterday, and eight behind the Melbourne Cup-engaged Smullen.
He will be far from writing off his chances too, as the good form of John Oxx’s team was confirmed yet again at the final turf fixture of 2010, especially by What A Charm’s victory in the November Handicap.
The controversial Pittoni returned from a 42-day ban in this race and was heavily backed down to 7 to 4 favourite, only to fade away quickly in the straight. In contrast, the farther they went the better What A Charm looked and the three-year-old filly was much too good for Prince Chaparral and Knight Eagle.
“She’s a grand filly who loves soft ground,” said Oxx who won the November Handicap with the subsequent Gold Cup winner, Enzeli, a decade ago. “That was the key. She will go hurdling with Arthur Moore this winter and might come back to us next year.”
Before that he also scored in the handicap with Fanny Dillon.
“Johnny Murtagh in his first year riding rode her and the race was worth 28,000 punts to the winner. I looked at the first prize today (€24,700) and I thought the country must be going to rack and ruin!” added Oxx.
The Curragh trainer also supplied Manieree in the juvenile fillies maiden and Berry struck for home early in the straight to hold off the highly-promising Wonder Of Wonders – from the family of Sea The Stars – by half a length.
Berry struck in the Listed Knockaire Stakes on the admirable Luisant, who comfortably beat Stunning View in the seven-furlong event.
“I told Fran to ride him as if it was six furlongs, and if he didn’t stay to blame me,” said trainer James Nash. “He’s an amazing horse. I don’t know whether he’s the best, but he’s the most consistent I’ve ever come across.”
Obligation started odds-on for the Listed Eyrefield Stakes, but the Ballydoyle favourite couldn’t hold off Tiz The Shot who he had beaten earlier in the month at Tipperary.
Tiz The Shot was completing a Leopardstown double within six days, and trainer Kevin Prendergast said: “We weren’t going to run but the race cut up and he’s a hardy boy. He’ll have a long winter to get over it!”
Prendergast also won the juvenile maiden, but it wasn’t with his 6 to 4 favourite, Giants Serapis. Instead, it was 20 to 1 newcomer Vastonea under Sam James that came through to win.
“We didn’t think he had enough done – but apparently he had,” the veteran trainer said. “He cracked a knee just after he was broken and was out for four or five months. He’s probably a decent horse in the making.”
