I AM sure that there were shouts of encouragement, and later of elation, in Co Limerick last weekend when Txope (Siyouni) won the Group 2 German 1000 Guineas at Dusseldorf.

Carrying the colours of Antoine Griezmann, the French soccer international and World Cup winner, Txope was successful in a stakes race in Germany at two, and group-placed in France where she had also been successful last year. Placed a couple of times at listed level this year, she really stepped up to the mark at the weekend. Connections are thinking of a Grade 1 challenge in the USA later this year, and she looks well capable of achieving that aim.