CURRAGH (20 Aug 2005)

Good

2:45 Racing Post In Ireland Belgrave Stakes (Listed) (3yo+)

[off 2:45] £25,393.62, £7,450.35, £3,549.65, £1,209.22 6f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Moon Unit (4) H Rogers 4 9-6 M J Kinane 9/1 106 — —

2 nk Dark Cheetah (USA) (3) A P O´Brien 3 9-0 K Fallon 11/1 102 — —

3 1½ Kay Two (7) Ms F M Crowley 3 9-3 D P McDonogh 16/1 96 — —

4 ½ Alexander Icequeen (10) D K Weld 3 8-11 P J Smullen 11/2 103 — —

5 shd Majestic Times (12) Liam McAteer 5 9-3 V R De Souza 16/1 96 — —

6 Osterhase (8) J E Mulhern 6 9-9 b F M Berry 6/4F 111 — —

7 Shersha (6) S J Treacy 6 9-3 K J Manning 12/1 100 — —

8 Bali Royal (GB) (2) T Stack 7 9-0 b W M Lordan 8/1 103 — —

9 Cupids Ray (5) M Halford 4 9-3 T P O´Shea 16/1 100 — —

10 Betsen (1) Declan Gillespie 3 9-0 N G McCullagh 16/1 — —

11 Alone He Stands (13) J C Hayden 5 9-3 P Shanahan 20/1 90 — —

12 Danetime Lady (11) Niall Moran 5 9-0 C P Geoghegan 66/1 60 — —

13 Final Contest (USA) (9) Patrick Morris 5 9-0 t R M Burke 100/1 50 — —

13 ran TIME 1m 11.50s (equals standard time) TOTAL SP 123%

1st OWNER: Mrs Paula Davison BRED: Ivan W Allan TRAINER: H Rogers

2nd OWNER: Mrs John Magnier

3rd OWNER: Hugh B McGahon

TOTE WIN £8.70 PL £3.00, £2.50, £5.50; Ex £147.40; CSF £106.52

ANALYSIS: A surprise outcome here when MOON UNIT took full advantage of a below par effort from easy-to-back favourite Osterhase to record her first win since landing the Naas Sprint Stakes over a furlong shorter in June. On that occasion the winner, previously successful in Group 3 Greenland Stakes here in May, had Osterhase a length back in third and ridden from off the pace was produced with a perfectly timed challenge down the outer to put her head in front well inside the final furlong. Her trainer mentioned the Diadem Stakes and the Abbaye afterwards but put the win down to the man on board who had her travelling in behind before asking the questions approaching the furlong marker. While she is more effective on easier ground the recent rain probably helped her cause somewhat also.

Dark Cheetah put a couple of previous runs well behind when running on best of all inside the final furlong while Kay Two was another to step up on previous form and indicated a return to the sort of form that saw him win three times last term.

Alexander Icequeen raced prominently but was fighting a losing battle entering the final furlong.

Majestic Times was done no favours by the favourite at a crucial stage and she was brought to a virtual stop.

Ireland's highest rated sprinter Osterhase was uneasy in the ring and although tacking across to lead in the early stages didn't travel with his customary style and was a spent force inside the final furlong probably feeling the effects of his recent exertions when winning the Phoenix Sprint here 13-days ago.

Bali Royal raced up front early but had no more to give when the tempo quickened again after halfway.

Osterhase was later reported in be in respiratory distress post race. His rider reported that the horse had hung right throughout.