Flat To The Max continued to underperform at Down Royal on Saturday night in a 2m 2f race on the flat. There was some torrential rain overnight and the going was soft by the time the last race on the card went off. Shane Crosse took the reins and his 5lb claim brought Max down from top weight. They were slow out of the stalls and they initially took up a position in second last in the field of ten and then settled a place further up. As they went past where they began at the start of the back straight, the leader, Casique Royale started to stretch them out. As they passed the 7, the horses just in behind the leader were cruising but Flat To The Max, still towards the back of the field was running with the choke out. At the top of the course, going past the 5, his race looked run already as Shane Crosse had to get to work on him. Mastermind took up the running along the rail but Dinard Rose, effortlessly, moved up alongside. Flat To The Max was eased off just after the 3 marker. Linger came to attack Dinard Rose but the favourite dug deep and saw off Joseph O'Briens gelding to give Trainer Noel Meade and Jockey Andrew Slattery, the win. It was another very disappointing performance from Flat To The Max. Not sure what the plans will be for him next. One member of the club was calling for him to go back over hurdles which he probably will do as the flat season nears its end. There's no doubt he has seriously regressed since he won for Ger Lyons and was sold to Gigginstown, then won a maiden hurdle at Gowran and had a 120 rating.
Cozy Sky has threatened to be a club winner since she joined us in the spring with promising runs over 5 or 6 furlongs usually running on well to indicate that she would enjoy a longer trip. It has been no secret that Gordon has been trying to get her into a 7f race for a while but she has been balloted out on each occasion. Pip at the yard said
"There are a large number of horses in Ireland that want 7f and fit a similar rating. We’re very happy to get her in a race however and we hope our patience can be paid off. She pulls very hard so Niall McCullagh better have had his Weetabix this morning". The rain continued to fall, at times heavily so the going was heavy in Roscommon. Cozy got away out of the stalls well and was soon in second place. Not sure if this was the plan but she stayed there anyway. Now we had to wait and see what she could do from the front. Pindaric held the lead with our grey horse running on his outside. As they hit the straight with less than 3 to go, it was the same pair leading. I was willing her to kick on as Niall McCullagh got to work on her but she was quickly swallowed up by the field. Tribal Path went into the lead but it was Mean Fomhair, Irish for September, with Colm Keane riding for his dad Gerry who came through to win stylishly by over 4 lengths. Cozy Sky finished 12th out of 14. The yard said they were disappointed with the run and we'll wait to hear what the next plan is for her.
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