SHANE Foley completed a Clonmel treble on Thursday where the classic-winning jockey combined with his employer trainer Jessica Harrington, along with Ken Condon and Eamonn O’Connell, for successes.

Foley began by winning the Slievenamon Maiden on the Condon-trained So Golden (9/4 joint-favourite), which edged left in the closing stages but scored by a length and three quarters from Coul Dream, with Eternal Echo catching the eye in third.

Afterwards Condon reported: “Shane had ridden her the first day when she put up a nice show and I thought she ran solid enough at Tramore afterwards. We said we’d give her more of a chance in today’s race, and not necessarily lead, and it worked out very well.

“I’m delighted for Nicky and Catherine (Hartery) as this is the second horse they’ve had with us and the first one to run. Nicky bred Laws Of Indices, who was smart for us, and had to be patient with this filly.”

Two races later Foley and Harrington combined to win the Knocklofty Handicap with Anamoine Ltd’s Iron Fist (7/4 favourite). The son of New Bay had previously scored on soft ground at Killarney in July and today raced prominently, before eventually beating Expound.

Nice performance

In common with Foley’s earlier winner So Golden, Iron Fist had also edged left in his run and Kate Harrington, representing her mother, reported: “It was a nice performance as he was carrying plenty of weight. He enjoyed the ground and Shane said he won despite not handling the track.

“We thought an awful lot of him as a two-year-old, but he took a while to do things right although is doing things right now. It was a good performance, is an improving horse, and he really loves that ground.”

Foley’s hat-trick was completed in the St. Patrick’s Well Handicap, on the Eamonn O’Connell-trained Chou Chou (4/1).

Initially held up in mid-division, the son of Belardo made headway in the dip, improved to lead inside the final furlong and battled well to beat Warazam by three parts of a length.

O’Connell commented: “He was in good form and we were hopeful but, with the rain that fell, we didn’t know how he’d handle it. We had been looking for soft ground all along, but he has been running well on good to firm. It is grand for the boys as we only claimed him for €4,000 and he has won twice now.

“The (We Built This City) syndicate is run by Declan Beary from Oola, it involves my father and there are 10 involved. They’re having great fun.”

JOCKEYS’ championship-leader Dylan Browne McMonagle landed the featured Tipperary Perpetual Cup on the Joseph O’Brien-trained, Ray Grehan-owned Shoda (5/4 favourite).

Runner-up at both the Galway and Tramore festivals in recent months, the four-year-old daughter of Nathaniel improved from mid-field to lead two furlongs out today, and held on well to beat Not Just Any Eagle by a neck.

Browne McMonagle said: “She is a deserving winner as the last twice I felt I was in front plenty early on her, so was a target for something to come and get her. I rode her more patiently today, she relaxes better and was a good winner.

“I thought there’d be more speed on, but I had to get her to just relax. She still got there a half-furlong too soon, but was good and tough.”

Hogan on the mark

Trainer Denis Hogan sportingly provided visiting Japanese jockey Ryusei Sakai with his first Clonmel experience on unplaced Roudha in the Suir Blueway Handicap, but did win the race with the Joey Sheridan-partnered, Premier Racing Club-owned Justenzia (4/1).

Justenzia raced with the pace throughout and scored by a length and a quarter from Miss American, while the winner’s stablemate Rouda trailed in last of 13.

Trainer Hogan explained: “Peter Roe, through his roll with HRI, had been on to me all week looking to get Ryusei a ride and this came free as Joey Sheridan was on Justenzia. Ryusei didn’t do anything wrong although he described the course as being ‘unique’.

Regarding his winner Justenzia, he added: “Ross Doyle recommended her to Colm Sharkey, so I have to thank both. Ross said she’d make a lovely dual-purpose type and this is great.

“The handicapper reassessed everything recently and gave her a chance by dropping her 2lb and letting her into this low-grade event.

“It was a nice starting point and I hope she’ll make a hurdler in time. Joey gave her a lovely ride and kept it simple. She is in a mile and one handicap at Punchestown on Tuesday, so we’ll see and Listowel is also a possibility.”

TWENTY-three-year-old amateur jockey Jack Martin registered a first success in the concluding John Thomas McNamara Series (QR) Handicap (Div II) on the Joe Murray-trained Make Good (8/1).

Riding for owner Paul Newman, Martin led from halfway and made use of the veteran gelding’s proven stamina, with the pair scored by four and three quarter lengths from No Big Deal.

Delighted Martin, son of retired trainer Pat Martin, reported: “Horses are all I’ve know and I rode in a charity race for Gavin Cromwell two years ago and decided after that to take out my licence. It means a lot to be able to do this.

“I ride out for Finbarr Hand and he uses Joey’s (Murray) gallops, so that’s how I know him. I know this horse and he said I could ride him, so it was great. He had really good form in his younger days and he stays well.

“I couldn’t believe the others weren’t coming to me three (furlongs) out and tried to keep him going from there - I’m just delighted.”

Murray added: “It was a brilliant ride from Jack and the horse is in great form. He was a good horse back in his day and we might get him back over hurdles again now.”

Halford takes time

The earlier division of the John Thomas McNamara Series race was won by the Gordon Elliott-trained The Mediator (15/2), under Josh Halford.

Carrying the colours of Sheila O’Ryan, John Doyle and Grant Leon, The Mediator was held up in rear, improved to challenge in the final half-mile and eventually scored by two lengths from Rich Belief.

Jockey Halford stated: “Gordon told me to take my time and it suited him down to the ground. His last run was in a charity race (finishing fourth under Tara Moneypenny who led him up today) when he flew home, having been dropped out.

“He had been working well at home and is a horse with plenty of ability, but the key to him is probably dropping him out. The charity race definitely sweetened him up.”

Peachy winner

The opening Clonmel Supporters Club (Fillies) Maiden was won by the Michael O’Callaghan-trained Its All Peachy (9/2), which scored for the Its All Peachy Syndicate and jockey Jamie Powell.

The daughter of Shaman raced prominently and scored by two and a quarter lengths from Tswalu, with Powell commenting: “She had form last year, but is only coming to herself now. Michael freshened her up since she last ran and it seems to have done her the world of good.

“She jumped and travelled very well, loved the track and ground. She enjoys that ground and it seems to help her, as it slows everything else down.”