Donal Manning turned back the clock when partnering Juneson to take the opening Kill Maiden at Naas yesterday evening. Manning (36), champion apprentice in 1985 when he also won the Moyglare Stud Stakes on Gayle Gal, produced the Mick Halford-trained gelding with a determined drive inside the final furlong to overhaul Moonis by half a length.
"My last winner was in a handicap on the Curragh for Jim Bolger a few years ago," said Manning, who is now a valued member of Dermot Weld's stable.
Rominten, carrying the Lucido colours of Hildegard Focke, made a winning debut in the Clane EBF Fillies Maiden. The daughter of Danzig led early in the straight, and was kept up to her work by Kevin Manning to beat Notional by three and a half lengths.
"I was a bit worried about the ground (officially good to firm)," said winning trainer Michael Grassick, who added: "I think she is a filly with a future."
Notional's handler Liam Browne went one better half-an-hour later in the Tend-R-Leen Horse Feeds Race where Ganaway drew clear from the furlong pole under Jamie Spencer for a convincing four and a half length victory over the well-backed Serena. "He deserves a chance in pattern company after that," said Browne.
Spencer doubled up in the following Paddock Residents Handicap aboard Perfect Scoundrel. Pat Hughes's gelding, the well supported favourite from 9/4 to 6/4, was driven through a gap over a furlong out and later survived a stewards enquiry in beating Nordic Isle by three-quarters of a length.
