YET another double pushed Jessica Harrington into previously uncharted waters as the trainer set a new personal best of 45 victories in a domestic flat season to surpass her 43 winner hauls of the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Perhaps the key feature of the trainer’s season has been the stunning array of talent amongst her juvenile fillies and it was entirely fitting that a member of that group should push her on to the 44-winner mark in the Foran Equine Irish EBF Fillies Auction Maiden. The filly in question was Silence Please who looked quite raw for her debut assignment in this seven-furlong affair.

However, the daughter of Gleneagles was much the strongest when it mattered most. Tom Madden got the 6/1 shot into the lead inside the distance and Silence Please went on to score by a length and a half from the previously placed Believe In Beauty. The half-sister to Gallante, who was a Group 1 winner in both France and Australia, looks a particularly astute acquisition having been picked up for just 27,000gns as a yearling.

Minnie Haha (4/1) went on to complete a double for Harrington and Tom Madden in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap over a mile and the trainer has hardly sent out a more deserving winner all season. The Gerard Byrne-owned filly had only finished outside the first five once from 13 previous starts and finally got her turn as she defeated Festina Plente by three lengths. Minnie Haha underwent a wind operation prior to finishing a neck second to Koybig at Killarney the previous week.

COLIN Keane also notched up two winners and his second came courtesy of the Ger Lyons newcomer Long Arm in the Ballykeefe Distillery Median Auction Race over an extended nine furlongs. This Patrick Headon-owned and -bred Rock Of Gibraltar gelding was notable on two fronts as he is a half-brother to his trainer’s multiple Group 3 winner Who’s Steph, and it was intriguing that Keane opted for him over his 82-rated stablemate Invasion Day.

The latter travelled well and led over a furlong out but Long Arm warmed to his task in very likeable fashion and prevailed by a neck. In accounting for two experienced previous winners on his racecourse debut the winner marked himself out as one with a bright future, especially over farther. Lyons reported that his charge might run once or twice more this season and he holds him in some regard.

Earlier, Keane struck on Lady Olenna who gave trainer Ray Cody a second winner in eight days in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden which is likely to act as prelude to a run in the Group 3 Give Thanks Stakes at Cork in a fortnight’s time. The Ballygallon Stud-owned daughter of Lope De Vega came here off commendable runner-up efforts behind the Irish Oaks fourth Search For A Song and the stakes-winning South Sea Pearl. The 5/1 shot took advantage of a drop in trip and class to consign Angel’s Amy to her third straight runner-up finish over this course and distance.

After running some decent races over a variety of trips this summer, the 21-race maiden Shamad finally got his turn in the Byrne Marquees Handicap. Peter Fahey’s charge, who may now go hurdling, ran well below his best when unplaced at Navan a fortnight previously, but this was much more in keeping with his true form and he just got the better of fellow 10/1 chance Pillmakers Hill. Ben Coen was on board the Direct Bloodstock Ltd-owned winner and received a two-day whip ban for his efforts.

Coen was also successful on Travelwise who added the first division of the Kilkenny Vehicle Centre Apprentice Handicap to his victory at Naas three days previously. The 13/8 favourite took control well over a furlong from home and was certainly value for more than the winning margin of half a length over Never Rains might suggest. Pat Flynn trains the winner for this wife Catherine and he reported that this lightly raced five-year-old might prefer an easier surface.

Bob finally gets his cheque

AT last a first career success arrived for A Few Bob Short (11/1) as he returned from over seven months off to land the 45-65 rated Lyrath Estate Handicap over an extended nine furlongs.

This four-year-old had been placed on all bar one of his 10 previous handicap runs, so this was an especially well-deserved victory for Shane Ryder’s charge.

Leigh Roche produced him with a sustained bid against the stand’s side rail which enabled the James O’Sullivan-owned gelding to get home by a neck from the well-backed Iron Blue.

The second divide of the 45-65 rated apprentice riders’ handicap went to the Anthony McCann-trained Little Camacho. The 4/1 favourite was providing Gavin Ryan with a chance winner when he stepped in for Andy Slattery who was stood down following a fall the previous evening.

Little Camacho prevailed by a neck from Guiding, with the pair separated by the width of the track at the finish.

The dual winner is owned by Patrick McCann who sold the €325,000 sale-topper at last year’s Goffs Land Rover Sale.