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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Night Glow a first for McCreery & Keane

Tue 29th Aug 2023, 19:59

Night Glow (right) just holds off AlalcanceNight Glow (right) just holds off Alalcance
© Photo Healy Racing

Willie McCreery and Colin Keane successfully combined for the first time, as they claimed the Gibneys Gormanston Fillies Maiden with Night Glow

Earlier successful on Sweetest Rose Keane was completing a double aboard the Karakontie-bay, who was last seen finishing a close-up fourth on her second start at Killarney.

Sent off a 15/2 chance this evening, she was settled behind the leaders on the inner and raced mainly in third.

Coming with her challenge between horses from the two-furlong pole, she soon got to the front and kept on well when ridden inside the final furlong, holding off the late surge of Alalcance (9/2 from 15/2 early) by a short head.

Beaten narrowly into second for a third time this evening, Shane Foley was aboard the runner-up, while there was a further two-and-a-half lengths back to the well-supported Joseph O'Brien-trained Deadly Nightshade (7/2 from 15/2) in third.

Returned an easy-to-back 10/3 favourite (from 11/4), Delicate Girl also trained by O'Brien, finished fourth.

"She's a well-bred filly, and for very important owners of mine, so I'm delighted," said McCreery.

"Colin said she's only learning her trade and she'll improve a lot from that.

"She had to wait for a run in Killarney the last day. She's been running on tight tracks but it's very hard to win a fillies maiden here in Ireland.

"We'll talk to the owners now. They are always trying to look for a bit of black-type but she'll be ground dependant, being by Karakontie. She's very like the sire, a big rangy filly.

"I think that's Colin's first winner for me. With Billy suspended, when he became available I had to use him."

STEWARDS REPORT

The Raceday Stewards interviewed S. Foley, rider of Alalcance (GB), concerning his use of the whip in the closing stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who accepted he was in breach of the regulation and apologised for his actions. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Raceday Stewards were satisfied that S. Foley was in breach of Regulation 10.3.g(excessive frequency). Having considered his record in this regard the Raceday Stewards cautioned him on this occasion

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.