I Can Fly is toast of Dundalk

I Can Fly and Ryan Moore win for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Photo Healy Racing.

I Can Fly lit up Dundalk, on her first start since the Breeders Cup Mile in November, as she scored an eight-length victory in the Get A Run For Your Money With BetVictor Fillies Race.

There were two big outsiders in the four-horse field – but in Surrounding, I Can Fly faced a formidable rival.

She and Ryan Moore eased away from the runner-up, however.

Winning trainer Aidan O’Brien said: “I’m delighted with her – she’s a lovely filly, and it’s great to get her started (again).

“Our plan is to go to Dubai with her for the nine-furlong (Grade One Dubai Turf) if she gets invited.

“She won her maiden here and handles the surface well. She’s a lovely, straightforward filly – and I couldn’t be happier.”

Jamie Codd rode his first winner at Dundalk when Markhan (6-4) justified favouritism in the opener.

The former champion amateur secured a passage through a very tight gap in the last furlong to deliver his challenge from off the pace on the Gordon Elliott-trained winner.

Dalileo certainly made Markhan work for it, but the winning margin was a convincing half length.

Codd said: “It tightened up for a stride or two, but it actually suits that horse because he likes to be in the hustle and bustle of a race.

“Once he got out, he started motoring – so it worked out well.

“We went very steady. But he’s run over seven furlongs at Laytown – so he’s not short of a gear for that, and it probably suited him.

“Busty (Amond) and Mouse (O’Ryan) own a leg in him – and they’ll make a plan along with Gordon.”

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Ken Condon registered his first success since relocating to the famous Osborne Lodge on the Curragh when Gold Jasmine triumphed in the second race.

It was not straightforward by any means, though, because the Shane Foley-ridden Gold Jasmine needed the intervention of the stewards to promote her after crossing the line second.

Burning Lake was first past the post but drifted right close home, carrying Gold Jasmine with him.

The margin between the pair was just a short head, so it was no real surprise when the result was amended.

Johnny Levins and Donagh O’Connor were the trainer and jockey involved with the unfortunate Burning Lake.

But O’Connor later got a measure of compensation when taking the penultimate event on Mulzamm for Denis Hogan.

For owner-breeder George Halford, and trainer Billy Fitzpatrick, Dandys Gold (13-2 into 9-2 co-favourite) followed up on her course success in January in the Racing Multiples Cash Out BetVictor Handicap.

David Simmonson was again in the plate, and stepping up from six to seven furlongs proved no problem for the Dandy Man mare – who beat War Hero by half a length.

The finale saw Drakensberg (7-4 favourite) catch the eye again with the style of his win for Tony Martin and Robbie Colgan – scoring for the second time over a mile and a half here, and clearly most progressive.

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