DARK MADAM LOOKS A PROSPECT AT THURLES

Peter Farrell

It has been a relatively quiet period at Thurles in recent weeks, however, Saturday night saw several smart performances over the course of their ten-race card.

In the second race of the night, an ON2 525, Dark Madam announced herself onto the racing scene with an extremely impressive display for Seamus and Teresa Cahill. Indeed, the Robert O’Flynn-trained bitch came into her first start with a couple of fine qualifying efforts and as such, she was installed as the 6/4 favourite to make a winning start to her racing career. A strapping 71-pounder, the April pup disputed the early running from trap four with Carlo in six, however, quickly blew her rival away with a brilliant turn of early speed. In doing so, the daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Lemon Stacy opened an unassailable lead down the back before staying on stoutly to win by a comfortable eight and a half lengths. A very telling performance from this debutant, the time was an exceptional 29.06.

IN OTHER RACES

In race four, Excess Cash brought his career tally to four wins as John Kirwan’s charge stepped up brilliantly to the extended 570-yard trip. 3/1 at the off, the son of Jacob Tashadelek and Kilcash Toto trapped lively from his inside berth in one and appreciated the long run to the opener as he turned with three lengths to spare over Goutouttathat in second. The leader maintained a solid gallop thereafter as he continued to fend off his trap five rival to come home three and a half lengths clear, in 31.45.

Over the sprint distance, there was a fine performance from Knockroe Fern as he arrived late to double his career tally for Eamonn Lloyd. An October 22’ fawn, ‘Fern’ went to traps as a 2/1 chance but he had to bide his time in the early exchanges as Joeys Sydney displayed the superior early speed to lead from trap one. However, not to be outdone, the son of Ballymac Best and Rosmult Racer powered up the Thurles straight thereafter and crossed the line to claim a neck decision over Joeys Sydney in second. The time was a fast 17.90.

The concluding race on the card saw Holiday Beebee bounce back to winning ways for her joint owners, Seamus Ryan and Roger Quinlan. Returning from what looked like a seasonal break, the daughter of Grangeview Ten and Beebees Star ran a fine race in defeat last time out and as such, she was installed as the even money favourite to record a third career victory. Running from one, ‘Beebee’ opened a four length lead down the back and looked home and hosed at this point given her sizable advantage. However, Lisdaleen Eileen made rapid progress in behind and made the eventual winner work extremely hard to fend off her challenge. That said, ‘Beebee’ did just that in crossing the line with a half length to spare, in a time of 29.14.