Saajidah sets a marker down at Roscommon
Monday 6 September 2010
Saajidah (5-1 co-favourite) marked herself down as a filly to follow in the coming months when bounding clear of her rivals in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap at Roscommon.
Kevin Prendergast's daughter of Dynaformer broke her duck on much quicker ground at Killarney last month but relished the rain-softened conditions and lengthened impressively for Declan McDonogh, who enjoyed a treble on the card, when asked to go about her business entering the final couple of furlongs.
Articilitis, trained by the winning rider's father, Desmond McDonogh, gave chase but could not get near the runaway winner, who had three and a half lengths in hand passing the post.
McDonogh jnr has struck up a good partnership with Foxillian in recent weeks and he made it two wins from three starts aboard the Kevin Condon-trained filly in the Castlerea Handicap.
Sent off at 9-2, the daughter of Namid came with a sustained challenge down the centre of the track and won well by a length and a quarter from Kammaan.
McDonogh's hat-trick was complete when Dibella, fourth to Saajidah at Killarney, gave the form another boost in the Irish Stallion Farms ENF Fillies Maiden.
Michael Halford's charge powered three and a half lengths clear of Crazyforlovingyou.
The opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden went to 3-1 shot Bible Belt, who struck at the second time of asking for trainer Jessica Harrington and jockey Fran Berry.
Patrick Cronin's grey Drain Hopper gallantly made every yard of the running under Pierce Gallagher to win the Four Roads Mares (Pro/Am) Maiden Hurdle, while the Ballyleague (Pro/Am) Handicap Hurdle went to Colin Kidd's Raheenwood, who got the better of Prosperity Square following a prolonged battle from two out.
The gambled-on favourite Sinbinned failed to figure under Katie Walsh.
