CURRACLOE made an exciting winning debut in the seven-furlong fillies’ maiden at Gowran Park on Tuesday, when flashing through the final two furlongs in just 22.49sec despite the yielding ground, writes Andy Stephens.

She looks bound for bigger things, and it may also pay to keep a close eye on Ita Florence, trained by Jim Bolger, who finished a keeping-on sixth.

The daughter of Sioux Nation attracted some market support, but her backers quickly knew their fate as she dwelt at the start, taking 3.55sec to reach 20mph. That was slowest of the 16 runners.

To compound matters, Ita Florence ran green and after three furlongs still only had two behind her in a race where the field got strung out.

However, the penny then began to drop, and she was quickest through furlong four (12.04sec) and swifter than all bar the winner in the final furlong. She ended up being beaten nine and a half lengths, but will know a lot more next time.

At Sandown last weekend, habitual slow starter Tribal Chief again soon found himself playing catch-up in the mile-and-a-quarter handicap, but it looked like he might play a part in the finish when quickest through the eighth and ninth furlongs.

However, he was only sixth fastest through the final 220 yards, shaping as if his stamina had been stretched in the truest-run race on the card. It was the only contest at the meeting run in a time quicker than the RaceiQ par.

The five-year-old is versatile regards the ground and there remains a decent handicap in him back over a mile, when everything clicks.

He finished seventh in the Balmoral Handicap at Ascot last year, but he’s lower in the ratings and worth keeping in mind for the finale on Champions Day next month.