FOR the third time in his career, reigning champion jockey Pat Smullen made it a century of winners for the season in Ireland and he did so in style as Making Light absolutely bolted up in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Fillies Maiden.

The Dermot Weld-trained juvenile made a solid start to her career when fifth in a Dundalk maiden in August. However, on vastly different and rather testing ground, the Moyglare Stud-owned filly took a marked step forward.

Throughout the seven-furlong contest Making Light (3/1) travelled with the utmost ease and she ambled to the front with just under two furlongs to run, by which stage the victory was already in safe keeping. The daughter of Tamayuz then cruised clear to hand out an eight-length beating to the newcomer Fast Bid.

“She handled the testing ground very well and it looked a good opportunity for her,” declared Smullen. “I was hoping she’d win although I was a little surprised by how easily she did it. She was very professional and her previous experience was a big help.”

Following two narrow defeats last month, Hansian Prince (15/8) enjoyed a change in fortune in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction (C&G) Maiden. Colin Keane’s mount, who was wearing blinkers for the first time, got on top shortly after making his challenge inside the last quarter of a mile. He maintained a useful lead in the closing stages to finish two and three-quarter lengths ahead of Fior Cliste.

“He’s a baby still and was just on and off the bridle at Down Royal last time which is why he wore the blinkers today,” reflected Ger Lyons’ brother, Shane. “He acts well on the ground, which is a massive help, and hopefully we’ll find something else for him before the end of the season. He was recommended to us by Peter Molony and Katie McGivern and, fair play to them, he’s a grand, fun horse for Vincent and Geraldine Gaul.”

Aidan O’Brien’s Black Hawk War (5/1), who holds an engagement at the Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale later this month, made a bright start to his career in the mile maiden.

The War Front colt coped well with the ground and looked to be in command when he got to the front just under two furlongs from home. Shortly afterwards, the favourite Creme De La drifted right and collided with the Donnacha O’Brien-ridden winner but this incident failed to halt the leader’s charge. He finished with three and a quarter lengths to spare.

“He’s a nice horse. The ground was a worry with him being a War Front but he did it well and had been working nicely,” reported the winning rider.

Master Ring (12/1) became the latest Ballygallon Stud-owned French import to make a winning start in Ireland, taking the 11-furlong maiden. The Michael Halford-trained three-year-old showed a reasonable level of form in three starts in France and he was much too good for these rivals on his first outing since July. Shane Foley and Master Ring drew clear of the field over the last furlong and a half to prevail by four lengths.

TESTING GROUND

“It just took him a little time to settle in but he’s a nice horse with a good attitude and he stays well,” reported Halford. “He’s a lovely moving horse and I’m surprised how well he has handled the ground. He’s the first horse we’ve had for the owners.”

Youceeyouceecee (8/1) showed that testing ground was no problem to him when winning at Tipperary earlier in the season and he added to that success in the seven-furlong handicap. Susan Finn’s charge looked to be labouring from some way out and only had two rivals behind him turning in, but Killian Leonard conjured a sustained charge from his mount. This enabled the pair to get on top in the last 50 yards to reverse recent Listowel form with Ecoeye and Stamp Of Authority.

“He was struggling early on and didn’t come down the hill that well but he’s a tough horse,” commented Susan Finn, who trains the winner for Mairead O’Carroll. “That ground makes a huge difference to him and he might go for something similar at the Curragh next week.”

Count Of Carabass (7/1) gave restricted licence holder Hilary McLoughlin her first success since he won at the 2014 Listowel Festival as he bagged the first divide of the 47-65 rated handicap. Chris Hayes weaved his way through the field on the five-year-old and the pair saw off William Ashford inside the distance finished with a length to spare.

“I was praying the rain wouldn’t fall today. He just didn’t handle heavy ground at Listowel last time,” reported the trainer. “He’s been running well all summer but he needs to drop in, which means that he does meet with trouble in running, but Chris was brilliant on him today. He might come back here on Saturday for an apprentice riders’ handicap.”

Tom Cleary was another trainer to end a lengthy barren spell as the victory of Double Fast in the second divide of the 47-65 rated handicap gave him his first winner of 2016. Under the trainer’s son, Rory, the 12/1 chance moved to the head of the field turning for home and then stormed clear to finish half a dozen lengths ahead of top-weight Hatton Cross.

“I fancied her in a big field sprint handicap at the Curragh last time and she missed the break but still ran very well to finish seventh,” said Cleary, who also owns the winner. “She likes soft ground and might come back here at the weekend while the ground is in her favour.”

Denis Lenihan once again showcased his talents on the John Morrison-owned and trained Caridadi in the apprentice rider’s handicap. Firstly, the rider was content to bide his time at the rear of the field on the 8/1 chance and, in the straight, he was rewarded for his decision to plough a lonely furrow up the centre of the track as he went in search of better ground. A willing Caridadi got on top late on to defeat Along The Shore by a length.

ACTING STEWARDS

J. McGuire, Ms. F. Ward, J. O’Shaughnessy, E. Flannery, H. Hynes.

HORSE TO FOLLOW

DUCHESS OF FRANCE (A.P. Keatley): This filly ran with credit to be beaten by just under three and a half lengths into third in the maiden won by Black Hawk War and she could well get her turn before the end of the season.

Whip bans

DONNACHA O’Brien picked up a three days whip suspension for his efforts on the fourth placed Perfect Storm in the maiden won by Hansian Prince.

Killian Leonard was given a one day ban after the stewards deemed that he had failed to ride in a straight line from his draw position in the handicap won by Double Fast.