TRAINER Stephen Thorne and jockey Jack Kearney enjoyed breakthrough wins at Killarney last Friday with success in the Listed Irish EBF Vincent O’Brien Ruby Stakes through the Shamrock Thoroughbred-owned Jagged Edge (7/2).

Last year’s Cambridgeshire winner stepped into stakes company for the first time and having tracked the leaders, led inside the final furlong to score by a length and a quarter from Carolina Jetstream.

It was both Thorne and Kearney’s first success at stakes level, and afterwards the trainer said: “We were humming and hawing whether to run, as we wanted him to defend his Cambridgeshire title next weekend but would have to lump top weight now.

“To get a stakes winner in my second season is special and without my assistant Stephen Mooney, I wouldn’t have had the take-off I’ve had. We picked out Jack Kearney early on and he has delivered on many occasions for us, so I’m delighted for him.”

‘Back in the Tralee days’

Ted Walsh landed the other feature race, the Kellihers Toyota Kingdom Gold Cup, with Gaoth Chuil (12/1).

Ridden by 7lb claimer Reese Holohan, the eight-year-old mare powered home to lead in the final strides, defeating Light Up The Dark by a half-length.

Similar to the earlier Ruby Stakes, this ‘Gold Cup’ had transferred from defunct Tralee in 2007 and Walsh explained: “I remember this used to be the Carling-sponsored Gold Cup back in the Tralee days, and it was a famous race to win. I never even had a runner in it and when it was moved from Tralee, it just lost its buzz.

“This is lovely though, and Micheal (Ryan, owner) has been with me up-and-down with different horses since my father died in 1990.”

LEGENDARY mare Dawn Run’s racing colours were carried to family success in the Killarney Towers Hotel Apprentice Handicap, as Trubshaw (7/1) scored under Gabriella Hill, and for trainer Henry de Bromhead.

Wearing first-time blinkers, Trubshaw made all the running and maintained a strong gallop both throughout, and after the race, having defeated Lady Plimsoll by six and a half lengths.

Jockey Hill, a great grandaughter of Dawn Run’s owner Charmaine Hill, reported: “Trubshaw travelled really well and the first-time blinkers were a big help. I actually couldn’t pull him up and we did another lap.”

The concluding HR Buddy (QR) Race saw two sons of leading ex-jockeys fight out the finish, with jockey Finny Maguire scoring by a head.

Murat, under Harry Swan, had made the running but was headed in the final stride by the Gerry Keane-trained Ragmans Corner (11/10 favourite).

Regarding his Wet Room Syndicate-owned winner, Keane commented: “He is a great little horse and has been very good to us,.

“He had a cracking run in the Galway Hurdle (fourth) when he was stopped in his run and was unlucky not to finish second, which was the difference of 50 grand!

“We stuck him in the Cesarewitch and that’s probably being ambitious, but he had to win to get in, so we’ll see. If he gets into that, he’ll probably run, although hurdling is his forte.”

BIGGEST-priced winner was Only One Scobie in the T1 Healthcare Handicap who, despite his 50/1 odds, was well-fancied by successful trainer Paul Flynn.

A 25/1 winner under Leigh Roche at Leopardstown in June, the same partnership again scored an all-the-way success here, winning by a length and a half from Chapel Lane.

Galway Hurdle-winning trainer Flynn later quipped: “I’ve realised that if I put Leigh Roche up, their prices just drift!

“We did fancy him, as he was sore after his Fairyhouse run and things didn’t go right before Galway when he missed a week, and was drawn wide. I felt he was a better horse today and couldn’t believe his price!

“He had beaten all of these in Leopardstown and ran well afterwards, but obviously if you don’t back them they will drift. The owners backed him though, and they’re happy.”

For his part, Roche concluded: “The horse was fresh and well, and if Paul listened to me earlier in the year, he’d have won six races on the bounce by now!”

Seaxburh opens the card

Racing began with the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery, which was won by the apparent Joseph O’Brien-trained second-string Seaxburh (3/1), for owners OTI Racing and jockey Declan McDonogh. Patiently ridden, Seaxburh scored by three and a quarter lengths from Maggie Walker.

McDonogh said: “She sometimes can be tardy coming out of the gates, but I think the mile brought the best out in her. The extra furlong suited as I could recover and I was able to get into a nice position.

“She appreciated the little juice in the ground and I’m sure Joseph will find another one now, as he always does.”

Hong Kong calling

Manton Bay (9/4 - 13/8 favourite) gained a timely second success in the CSG Rated Race. He has been declared for today’s Tote Irish Cambridgeshire at the Curragh.

Ridden by Luke McAteer, Manton Bay quickened to lead a furlong out, and held on on well to score by a half-length from Totally Puzzled.

David Marnane trains the winner for his own MRC International syndicate, and reported: “I’m tired of him finishing second but he is a very, very good horse who is a little bit idle.

“I left him in the Cambridgeshire (€100,000) for next week and while we’ll mull it over, I’d say he will probably run.

“There has been a few offers in for him from Hong Kong so we’ll see what happens, but at the moment the plan is the Cambridgeshire.”

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