Murtagh and Ballygallon strike again

Peacehaven has gotten the Ballygallon Stud Limited and Johnny Murtagh alliance off to a good start with a brace of wins and there was further success for the owner and trainer when Hawke (14/1) came out on top in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund "Red God" Handicap at Dundalk.

Colin Keane was the man aboard this French-import and the home-bred Oratorio gelding got the better of Ringside Humour by a length.

"I have six horses for the owner, and I'm delighted to get them. It's great to have a big owner/breeder like that in the yard, and this horse has settled in well," stated Murtagh.

"He had a good run in Deauville. We knew he would handle this surface, and targeted this race for a while.

"He was a fairly smart horse early in his career, and we could look at Champions Weekend for one of the good handicaps. Colin said that was a nice trip for him, and hopefully he can build into a Stakes horse."

D.P. McDonogh, rider of Aridity trained by W. McCreery, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount checked before turning into the straight.

P.J. Smullen, rider of Zalfana trained by D. K. Weld, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount lost her action and was eased from thereon

(AM & EM)