JESSICA Harrington had a good night at Roscommon on Tuesday as she welcomed back in two winners, both progeny of former stable stars. The regally-bred Proxima Centauri gained valuable winning brackets in fine style when landing the SIS Fillies Maiden with ease.

Shane Foley made all on the 7/4 favourite in the seven-furlong contest and she kicked clear over a furlong from home for a cosy four-and-a-quarter-length success.

The Circus Maximus filly is the third produce of star race-mare Alpha Centauri and Harrington said afterwards of the Niarchos family-owned three-year-old: “It’s great to get her a win and she did it easily. She ran at the Curragh and took a blow that day.

“We’ve been waiting for a seven furlong or mile fillies maiden with her, that’s her distance. She’s got a touch of class. I want to get blacktype but hopefully they might keep her in training next year. She’s a big filly and she’ll only keep on improving.”

Echos of Vega

Two races earlier Echo Of Faith made it third time lucky when landing the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden over the same trip.

Foley was short of room early on the straight on the Lucky Vega gelding but he got his gap a furlong out and the 10/3 shot kept on best late on to beat Spinning Around by three parts of a length.

Harrington won the Phoenix Stakes with Zhang Yuesheng’s Lucky Vega in 2020 and said: “The step up in trip helped, and a bit of time because he’s a big horse.

“I went at him thinking he was a Lucky Vega and would be early but they are only coming to themselves now. I think they are really starting to come to themselves. He has a great attitude, will probably stay a mile and likes that nice ground.”

Successful start

In the other maiden on the card Bryant made a winning start for Adrian Murray in the mile and a half contest.

Sam Coen got a good run up the inner to lead passing the furlong pole and the 3/1 shot went on to post a comprehensive three-and-a-quarter-length win in the Amo Racing colours.

“He has improved plenty and Sam said there is still a bit of improvement in him, he said he was a little bit green there around the bends,” said Murray.

“He won easily and is a nice horse going forward. We’ll see what the handicapper does and make a plan from there.”

ONLY five went to post in the Irish EBF Auction Series Race but it produced the finish of the day. The Noel Meade-trained Check This Out came to join front-runner Giovanni Giorgio two furlongs from home and the pair settled down for a cracking battle.

Colin Keane’s mount, sent to post a 5/2 shot, just had the verdict passing the post, gaining a nose victory over the 10/11 favourite.

“The race was kind of made up for him. It’s great to have those races for horses that cost a little less money,” said Meade, who trains the winner for Anthony O’Gorman.

“He’s run three times here and won twice. He’s a nice little horse and has done well. He was a bit fresh today more than anything and it might just have told on him a little bit at the end but he got home and that’s the main thing.”

Front runner

Front-running tactics paid off for Free Solo in the earlier WTW Willis Handicap as he recorded his sixth career victory.

Ben Coen got a good tune from the Pat Murphy-trained gelding in the closing stages as he stretched clear in the final furlong for a four-and-a-quarter-length win, in the colours of Margaret Ahern.

Coen said of the 15/2 winner: “He’s a likeable horse. He jumped, got an easy lead, liked the ground and he kicked turning in. To be fair he stayed going well. He’s been around the block but this year he’s been very consistent which is a good sign for a horse his age.”

SMART hurdler Kool One struck again on the level for Conor Maxwell when landing the concluding Campbell’s Bar Ballinlough Handicap.

James Ryan, riding for his father Kieran, produced the 9/1 shot with a strong run to get up close home for a neck success over the front-running Out On Friday.

Maxwell said: “He was good, Jimmy was cool! Galway didn’t work out, he got trapped wide everywhere. We thought he had a chance coming here. We were a bit worried the ground might have dried out a bit but he got there in the end.

“On his hurdles form he looked to be on a nice mark. He has matured a hell of a lot. Last season we went to Cheltenham and were unlucky to unseat and then went to Fairyhouse when we probably should have let him off.

“The Lartigue Hurdle is the plan. The is a maiden hurdle at Wexford next week. He might go there or he might go straight to the Lartigue.”

Making waves

Denis Hogan’s good form continued when Mono River landed the opening QuinnBet Optional Claimer on the card. Joey Sheridan produced the Zarak gelding with a strong run to lead in the closing stages and beat Powerful Hook Head by three parts of a length.

“A couple ran off the first bend but I was grand and got in behind Deccy (McDonogh – on Powerful Hook Head). His horse actually quickened up well into the straight but my lad picked up and did it well,” said Sheridan.

“Off 9st 2lb he should have been thereabouts. Denis’s horses are flying as well so it’s great.”

The winner was subsequently claimed by John McConnell, who also claimed the fifth horse Adial Kedo.