Ciarrai Abu

(Jarlath Fahey)

Curragh, August 23rd

One to outrun their odds in a major way at the Curragh last Saturday was the Jarlath Fahey-trained newcomer Ciarrai Abu. Sent off at 100/1, the Study Of Man gelding shaped with definite encouragement when finishing sixth in the 14-runner maiden won by Willie Mullins-trained debutant Thread Of Gold. Leigh Roche’s mount was slower than anything else in the line-up through the opening three furlongs, but it was eye-catching how smartly he made headway without having to be asked serious questions. According to the Coursetrack sectional times, Ciarrai Abu was the second quickest in the field from four furlongs out to three furlongs out, faster than any runner from the three pole to the two pole and again quickest from two out to the final furlong marker. Having had to challenge from well off the pace, perhaps those exertions told late on as he only ranked seventh in the final furlong and was beaten three lengths by a ready winner. However, only a length separated the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth - Ciarrai Abu was right amongst them. From a Moyglare family and out of a winning Dubawi mare, he looks well bought at €14,000 as a yearling and even better business was done when he was bought back by connections for just €3,000 at a later yearling sale last year.

Maximillian Lady

(Cormac Farrell)

Ballinrobe, August 25th

The concluding four-year-old fillies’ bumper at Ballinrobe on Monday has been won by some quality sorts in recent years: blacktype performer Nikini in 2021, Cheltenham listed bumper winner Baby Kate beat the Grade 1-placed Switch From Diesel in 2023 and another Cheltenham listed scorer, Seo Linn, came home in front 12 months ago. Gordon Elliott’s Blue Waters won in smart fashion this time around, though there was an eyecatching run from the second-placed Maximillian Lady that’s worth taking note of. Pulled up on her only start in a point-to-point in March, she was a different proposition switching to a bumper on decent ground. The Maxios filly was ridden with plenty of patience by Josh Halford and the clear-cut winner got first run on her. However, she finished off well once passing a couple of rivals and was faster than anything from two furlongs out to the line. This experience should stand to her and she can win a similar event with normal improvement.

Carmel’s Phoenix

(Mark Fahey)

Bellewstown, August 26th

Tuesday’s Bellewstown scorer Stellar Quality (7/2) was flagged up as a likely maiden winner in this column on the back of her previous outing at Killarney, and the runner-up from that Co Meath track maiden, Carmel’s Phoenix, has the potential to do similar in due course for the Mark Fahey yard. The Phoenix Of Spain filly ran a big race on debut when a never-dangerous 80/1 fourth at the Curragh considering how much ground she gave her rivals early on, and this was a more professional display from her over a longer - and more suitable - trip. She was always roughly a couple of lengths behind the winner here, racing in mid-field, and couldn’t ever get past that rival (beaten a length and three quarters), but she was the fastest finisher in this race through the final three furlongs. She looks just the type to improve again from this and has a decent back pedigree, being out of a half-sister to Australian Group 1 winner Fifty Stars and Grade 1-winning hurdler Whiskey Sour.