IRISH-breds swept four of the seven races at Fair Hill Steeplechase last Saturday. For Goodness Sake, Norse Star, Dark Gemini and Manacor relished the soft turf at the spring’s final steeplechase meeting.

For Goodness Sake, a five-year-old daughter of Yeats, upset the Iris Ann Coggins Filly and Mare Stakes for Amy Taylor, Paddy Young and Willie McCarthy. With Young in the hospital with a fractured skull and a broken neck, McCarthy deputized in an emotional win, pumping his whip at the local crowd when they crossed the line.

“I don’t want to talk about Willie McCarthy today, I want to talk about Paddy Young,” McCarthy said, wiping away tears. “I know he was on that filly with me.”

Young’s wife, Leslie, reported good news Wednesday as the five-time champion began to slowly come out of an induced coma.

“He is great today, he knows who I am, he’s responding to commands,” Leslie said. “He watched the Fair Hill replay with seriousness and shrugged his shoulders when Willie said he was sorry for showboating on the mare. We’ve had a very good day today.”

Temple on track

MISS Temple City prepped for her return to Royal Ascot with a late-morning breeze over the Fair Hill turf last Saturday. The Graham Motion-trained mare has missed both her planned starts this year because of soft turf. The daughter of Temple City holds entries in the Queen Anne Stakes and Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

“She’s ready,” said former steeplechase jockey and exercise rider Robbie Walsh.