Bud Fox by Walk In The Park ex Flaviana (Flemensfirth) shaped like a smart prospect when quickening to a winning debut in Sunday’s four-year-old maiden at Bellharbour.
Bud Fox wins the 4yo Geldings Maiden at Bellharbour (Pic – Coolmore)
Four raced in a line after the second last, but the Derek O’Connor-trained and ridden newcomer produced a smart turn of foot to assert before the final fence.
The Margaret Bleahen-owned gelding was ridden out on the run-in to score by two lengths.
Bred by John Lenihan out of a Flemensfirth mare, Bud Fox is bred on the same cross as Walk In The Park’s recent Gr1 winner Final Demand and Thyestes Chase victor Nick Rockett.
Walk In The Park sired another point-to-point maiden winner the previous day at Dungarvan, where Broomfield Aderra (Walk In The Park ex Back To Loughadera, by Bob Back) landed the five-year-old mares maiden by four lengths under Troy Walsh.
Trained by Aidan Fitzgerald for Ray Fitzgerald, she had shaped with promise when finishing fourth on debut last season and was sent off favourite to get off the mark on Saturday. Racing prominently through, she produced a fine jump at the last and kept on well to assert on the run-in.
The daughter of Walk In The Park was bred by JJ Harty.
Son Of Walk In The Park Storms Clear To Grade 1 Glory
Final Demand ( Walk In The Park ex Zuzka, by Flemensfirth) was sent off a short-priced favourite for the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival and justified the market support with an impressive 12-length win.
Final Demand wins the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle (Pic – Coolmore)
The expensive store sale purchase joined Willie Mullins following a smart debut for Matthew Flynn O’Connor, and confirmed he was an exciting prospect when bolting up on rules debut over the Christmas period.
Paul Townend took the ride at Leopardstown on Saturday and looked full of confidence approaching the turn for home. Pushed along to lead before the final flight, the bay stayed on strongly on the run-in, while the rest of the field fought for placings.
Bookmakers subsequently shortened him to 7-4 favourite for both the Turners Novices’ Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, and the winning trainer’s post-race comments suggested that options remain fluid for Final Demand.
“To do what he did there on only his second run over hurdles was a huge achievement,” Mullins said. “What he did from the last to the line sets him apart from other horses. He’s a specimen and I believe he was one of the most expensive store purchases of his generation, which doesn’t always work out, but it has with this fellow.
“I would not mind going back in trip with him, and it makes me think about whether this race should be over two and a half miles instead of two miles and six furlongs.”
The son of Walk In The Park was bred by Ken Parkhill, whose Castletown Quarry Stud sold him at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale to Ballycrystal Stables and Joey Logan for €230,000.
- www.coolmore.com
