Catching up with .. is our new series featuring leading pointers, past and present. We catch up with some of the favourites over the years and find out more about those currently leading in the pointing field.
This week in the spotlight is the progressive mare Ask Mary who is currently in joint-third place on the leading pointer table for this season.
Trained by Richard Lalor, who has an impressive strike rate with mares’, in particular with their own home bred runners, the daughter of Ask has clocked up four wins in a row since March.
Ask Mary made her debut at Killeagh in January where she pulled up before running at Nenagh later in the month and finished third.
Following a fifth placed run at Cragmore in February, Ask Mary got off the mark at Horse and Jockey in the confined maiden by half a length over Cavalry Scout.
Just under two weeks later, Ask Mary secured her second consecutive success by producing a pillar to post performance to take the mares’ winner of one at Durrow by two and a half lengths.
Ask Mary continued her upward trajectory and highlighted herself as one of the leading mares of the spring season following her win in the mares’ winner of two at Dromahane by a comfortable three lengths.
Having established herself as a step above her rivals in winners company, Ask Mary then made her first appearance in open company a winning one by scoring in the mares’ open at Courtown by three lengths.
Bred by Athenry-based Seamus Killeen, she is the first foal out of the Galway native’s only broodmare.
Ask Mary, who runs in the colours of James Killeen from Monivea in Co. Galway, is out of the mare, Marys Folly who was second in two point-to-points at Killmallock and Kilworth for Michael Butler.
We spoke with Lalor’s daughter Liz who rode the five-year-old mare on all four successes this season and is currently in front in the Ladies riders title having ridden 12 winners.
“I got her through a friend of my brothers, Darren Collins, who broke her and got her going.
“I have her about a year and a half now. She’s a grand mare to train.
“She is a tough and honest sort and has showed us that this season in all of her wins. She tries her hardest for you.
“She can be a bit spirited at times but that’s no harm! The plan will probably be to go to the track in the autumn.”
Ask Mary is the latest horse to feature in our new series catching up with leading pointers from past and present. The progressive mare recorded four success between the flags over six weeks for the Killen family. READ more here: https://t.co/VXQnz4q2vE@lizzielalor pic.twitter.com/U6Fi6ildWl
— p2p.ie (@irishp2p) May 25, 2018
