The Sunday Syndicates Post – Vol. 3, Issue 26

Lady Masquerade supplied her owners with an action packed week making her debut in Limerick on Thursday followed by a stable tour to her trainers, Gavin Cromwell, on Saturday. She acquitted herself well on her rules debut running an eye catching 3rd behind the well fancied Shajak just wanting fo fitness over the last two hurdles.

The striking daughter of Masked Marvel was a €6,500 Tattersalls Ireland July Store sale purchase last year. She has a couple of options now whether it be to go and win her maiden hurdle or to go try win bumper. Our main target with her had been the Paddy Power Mares Handicap Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival but we may have to reassess that target after her highly promising debut.

It was great to be able to welcome over 20 owners to Gavin’s yard on Saturday morning to see the intricacies of one of the most upwardly mobile dual purpose yards in the country. Gavin and Alan were so accommodating and the filly was in immaculate condition.

Falls gains her Freedom

Freedom Falls gain her “second” victory in the space of a couple of weeks having come out on top (again) in an appeal against her Navan victory. The owners of the runner up felt that there had been grounds on which to lodge an appeal against Freedom Falls victory in Navan Saturday last. We had been informed of the appeal 48 hrs post her victory and prepared to go into battle again.

I had never attended an appeal before but I must say it was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. The countless hours of the hit TV show “Suits” which I binged throughout college really felt like they came to reality!

Present at the IHRB hearing were three Senior Stewards, an IHRB rep, John James Feane (trainer of Lady Fox), Hugh Horgan (jockey), Brendan Powell (jockey rep), Jack Davison and myself. The formal setting showed multiple replays from multiple angles before hearing the IHRB make their case against Hugh Horgan for his appeal of his one day careless riding ban. Hugh then gave his statement of events before the stewards questioned Hugh on his riding that day.

After this, evidence was heard from Johnny Feane where he argued the case on why he thought his horse, Lady Fox, should have been awarded the race. He proclaimed that Freedom Falls started the drift and his filly followed her toward the rail. He stated that Freedom Falls could not see Lady Fox due to the application of cheek pieces and that interference only occurred in the last 25yds.

Davison “took the stand” after this and spoke very eloquently about how he felt that his filly had been intimidated from the 2f marker and was carried 4/5 lanes across the track from the centre right over to the rail. After watching multiple head and side on views he stated that not only did Lady Fox’s jockey fail to change his whip hand he also leaned in on the smaller filly for a significant period carrying her across the track causing her to lose ground and ultimately go down by “a head”. The Stewards then asked their questions and adjourned for judgment.

After 10 mins of adjudication we were called back into the room to hear the results. After much deliberation they stated that they found Lady Fox and her jockey significantly interfered with Freedom Falls and caused her enough interference to lose the race therefore the amended result was to be upheld.

Restitution set for debut

Restitution is set to fork top weight on his US debut in Saratoga on Wednesday. He is one of eight intended runners in the $75,000 Jonathan Kisser Novice Stakes. He is set to become our first runner for Keri Brion with rising talent Parker Hendricks taking the mount.

Restitution will have to take on some other talented imports including the ex. Aidan O’Brien / Jessica Harrington trained Barbados and the talented Bolger / Emmet Mullins G2 winning hurdler McTigue. We’re excited to see what the son of Frankel can achieve for us on our first foray into American jumps racing.

Breakfast With The Stars almost at capacity

Our annual Breakfast With the Stars has attracted well over 100 signatures to attend on August 12th. The special appearance of Patrick Mullins along with a broad range of hugely exciting horses are due to be on show in the picturesque sitting of the Slieve Bloom mountains in county Laois.

Thank you.

Thanks for reading. If there is anything we can do for you please reach out john@syndicates.racing.