Wave Of Applause

The Tommy Stack-trained Wave Of Applause put up a nice performance to win her maiden on her racecourse debut in the curtain-raiser at Leopardstown on Sunday. Strong in the market beforehand, she broke smartly and took up a nice position in fourth place just behind the early pace. She raced wide around the home turn as the leader, the more experienced Catalpa Sail, railed well under Pat Smullen and travelled well in front. Three lengths down passing the two-furlong pole behind a leader who looked to be going at least as well, Wave Of Applause picked up well when Wayne Lordan asked her. The Dermot Weld-trained leader picked up nicely as well, and Wave Of Applause had to dig deep on the outside, but she did, and she got up to win by a head.

There was a lot to like about this performance. Catalpa Sail set a fair standard, he had had the benefit of two prior runs, both of them promising, and he saved ground by bagging the rail around the home turn as Wave Of Applause went wide. He is a useful performer whose maiden win is surely imminent, and the front pair pulled nicely clear of their rivals. Also, there was a lot to like about the attitude that Wave Of Applause displayed, she wanted to pass the leader, and she did so, without the benefit of the running rail against which to race. It was a smart performance.

By Royal Applause out of a Danehill mare, she should get further than this six-furlong trip on pedigree, but she showed a lot of speed here. She obviously should progress from this, and it would not be at all surprising if she was up to winning a Pattern race. It is interesting that her trainer thought enough of her to give her an entry in the Group 1 National Stakes. She could be very useful.

9th May 2010

© The Irish Field, 15th May 2010