IN recent weeks it has become apparent that Ken Condon possesses a remarkable depth of talent amongst his team of juveniles and he unleashed a cracking prospect in Thunder Beauty (12/1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over six furlongs.

This daughter of up-and-coming sire Night Of Thunder appeared to do everything at her leisure through the race and Billy Lee gave the impression that he had plenty left in reserve as his mount crossed the line a length and three quarters ahead of the promising newcomer Harannda.

The winner briefly bumped the runner-up inside the distance but, as expected, a stewards’ enquiry left the placings unchanged, although Lee did pick up a two-day careless riding ban.

After this race, Condon had won with a remarkable five of the seven two-year-olds that he has run in Ireland this season.

“We seem to have a nice bunch of two-year-olds and she’s been working nicely over the last few weeks,” reported Condon who trains the €42,000 yearling purchase for his wife Pauline and David Kelly.

“I didn’t put her in the Debutante as she is in the Irish EBF Ballyhane Stakes at Naas the previous day and that is where she might go next.”

Coill Avon (11/4) looks a colt that will be holding his own in good company before the end of the season as he got off the mark at the third attempt in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C&G) Maiden over six furlongs.

A fifth winner to emerge from the Naas maiden won by Lucky Vega in June, this Ger Lyons inmate gave the impression that he had matters under control for Colin Keane from two furlongs out and he went on finish two and a half lengths clear of the eye-catching Ballydoyle newcomer St Mark’s Basilica, a Siyouni half-brother to Magna Grecia.

“He was very immature at Navan last time (second to Forest Of Dreams) but that run stood to him and he was much more professional today,” stated Shane Lyons of the Chris Clinch-owned colt.

Progressive

The improving Rayounpour made it back-to-back premier handicap victories under Adam Farragher as he ran out a commanding winner of the Mongey Communications Handicap over 10 furlongs. This four-year-old, who carries the colours of Richard McNally, was dropping in trip from a mile and a half so Farragher opted to keep his mount on the pace. Rayounpour (5/1) was not for catching, he struck the front early in the straight and went on to finish three lengths ahead of the top-weight, Halimi.

“He got a lovely ride from Adam, who is good value for his 7lb claim, and the horse likes a bit of room so riding him handy suited him and we felt he’d prefer this place to Galway. He’s an improving horse,” declared his trainer, Michael Halford.

The day’s other premier handicap, a three-year-old-only affair over five furlongs, went to the Tom Mullins-trained Not Now Zeb who looked a most improbable winner at one stage.

The 18/1 shot arrived late to win at Navan last time and he was last with two furlongs to run here, but Shane Foley conjured a stunning surge from the Helen Mullins-owned gelding who flashed home on the stand’s side to cut down Elzaamone and prevail by three parts of a length.

“Since Navan they felt he’d improved at home and he got a great ride from Shane. I’d say he’s probably better over six furlongs and this is probably his ground (yielding),” stated the trainer.

Meanwhile, the unstoppable Johnny Murtagh notched up yet another winner when Trueba (15/2) credited Nikita Kane with the second success of her career in the Manguard Plus Apprentice Handicap over six furlongs.

The Paul McKeon-owned four-year-old struck for home shortly after halfway and kept on in willing fashion to score by two lengths.

“That’s great for Nikita who is a hard worker and he is her ride for the rest of the season – she gets a good tune out of him,” reported Murtagh. “A stiff six or an easy seven furlongs suits him well.”

IRISH racing witnessed its biggest-priced winner for two and a half years as the Hilary McLoughlin-trained Chocquinto struck at 150/1 in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over five furlongs.

After struggling to make a telling impact on her first two starts, this Timothy Bourke-owned and -bred filly produced a revelatory effort under Billy Lee.

She quickened up like a useful sort over the course of the last furlong to win by a length and half and become the longest-priced winner of a race in Ireland since Killahara Castle recorded an unprecedented 200/1 triumph at Thurles in December 2017.

The 4/5 favourite Na Blianta Beo finished a disappointing 10th and further drama was added to the result when the runner-up Boundless Power was disqualified after her rider Sean Davis weighed in light.

“She works like a very nice filly at home but she was just very green on her first two starts. My first ever winner came here back in 2011 and I thought I’d never get another one here. Billy gave her an exceptional ride,” stated the trainer.

Nordic Passage (5/1), who had looked a very progressive sprinter prior to a disappointing effort in the Scurry here the previous weekend, bounced back to form in the 70-100 rated five-furlong handicap.

This Johnny Levins inmate looked very comfortable as he came back to the minimum trip and from some way out Donagh O’Connor gave the impression that he had everything covered.

The Hugh Ward-owned five-year-old picked up nicely to defeat Boughtinthedark by half a length and record his third win of the season.

“What looked a good high draw for the Scurry was a disaster as he ended up being upsides in front and ran with the choke out,” commented Levins.

“He’s shown that run to be all wrong and he’s a horse I’m looking forward to. I think we might work back from next year’s Wokingham with him.”