THUNDER Kiss, who developed into a high-class middle-distance filly last term, struck an ominous chord on her return to action as she totally outclassed her opponents in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Noblesse Stakes.

In a race that yielded a one-two for the grey’s owner, Newtown Anner Stud, Thunder Kiss had to shoulder a Group 3 penalty as a result of her Munster Oaks success over this mile and a half last June.

In truth, the five-year-old could have won with an even bigger penalty as she was cruising along in behind the leaders turning for home before Colin Keane eventually sent her on approaching the last quarter of a mile.

At this point, it was merely a question as to what the margin of victory would be and Thunder Kiss hit the line four and a half lengths ahead of Annerville with Pineapple Express running a huge race to secure third.

“She’s a very likeable mare. She’s a year older and a year stronger and no reason why she can’t keep progressing and go all the way to the top. She’s been working like a proper filly at home,” commented Colin Keane with suggestions that the Tattersalls Gold Cup could be next for the winner. The card also featured an interesting maiden over 10 furlongs and it produced a cracking finish from which Ghasham and Dylan Browne McMonagle emerged victorious.

Joseph O’Brien trains the son of Churchill for his mother, Annemarie, and the 11/2 chance was stepping forward nicely on the form of his two outings last autumn.

Ghasham and Ruler Legend served up a tremendous tussle from the turn-in as they went toe-to-toe and the first-named kept finding more to maintain a slender lead to hit the line with half a length to spare.

The winner appeals as being able to make his mark in a decent contest in the coming months while the successful jockey was making it 100 career victories.

Toy shows her classic potential

AIDAN O’Brien’s Toy looks like a filly that will be holding her own at a much higher level of competition as she ran out an impressive winner of the seven-furlong maiden.

This Galileo own-sister (out of You’resothrilling) to a host of top-flight performers, including last season’s French classic heroine Joan Of Arc, had filled the runner-up spot on her first two outings.

Seamie Heffernan’s mount was quite poorly drawn in stall 14 but she soon took up a good position, led a quarter of a mile out and kept on strongly to dish out a five-length beating to the 84-rated Esculenta.

A tilt at the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) is likely to be next for the 5/6 favourite and she will not be out of place there.

Meanwhile, Paddy Twomey has a fine three-year-old on his hands in French Claim who justified odds-on favouritism to the tune of nine lengths in the Tote-sponsored conditions race over 10-furlongs.

A really taking maiden winner at Listowel in September before running a big race at Group 3 level the following month, the Teme Valley-owned colt was sent off at 5/6 and he made all the running for Billy Lee.

Authority

For a moment or two approaching the last furlong, Sussex threatened to make things interesting but that 90-rated colt was dismissed with some authority

“He ran a good race meeting loads of trouble in the Eyrefield Stakes last year,” stated the trainer. “The Yeats Stakes over a mile and five furlongs at Navan next month is a possibly target and he’ll have no problem getting that trip.

“The Epsom Derby is under consideration and later in the year a race like the St Leger at Doncaster could be right up his street.”

There was a 40/1 surprise lying in wait at the end of the day Gold Lunula made all the running in the GAIN The Advantage Series Handicap over 10 furlongs.

Kevin Coleman’s charge only beat three rivals in as many outings last season but turned in a vastly better effort under Joe Doyle to reach the line two lengths ahead of Action Motion.

The winner of this three-year-old only 47-70 rated contest is owned by the trainer’s wife, Kim.

Spear points to a better future

A QUALITY card also featured a taking effort from Tip Of The Spear who won a smart 10-furlong handicap on his third outing. Andrew Kinirons trains this four-year-old son of Epaulette for his breeder Ben Browne.

Tip Of The Spear had plenty to do turning for home but Gavin Ryan exuded confidence. The jockey never got that serious with the 10/1 chance who gradually closed in on the leaders and swept past Ahandfulofsummers inside the last furlong to carry the day by half a length.

“He was a big raw horse and has strengthened up over the winter and his work up the Curragh is unbelievable,” said the trainer. “We’ll now see what the handicapper does but he could be anything.

One of the most competitive races of the day was the seven-furlong handicap for older horses and it saw a fine effort from Punk Poet, notching his fifth win with a trail blazing effort under Declan McDonogh. The five-year-old was fit from a spell on the Polytrack and a recent outing on turf and he turned back every challenge over the last furlongs, and in the colours of the trainer’s wife Aileen, he got home by half a length.

Run The Jewels (7/2) won for the second time in three starts and provided trainer Michael McCullagh with his first winner in just under five years in the 47-65 rated seven-furlong handicap.

The trainer’s son, Scott, was on board this Thomas James-owned gelding. “That’s our first runner from the Curragh, we’re based there now and Danny McLoughlin is looking after everything for me,” remarked the trainer.