THE Jessica Harrington-trained Paris Peacock shed her maiden tag in the best possible style in the Listed Irish Stallion Farms EBF Hurry Harriet Stakes.

On her first outing in the colours of American owner Craig Bernick, this three-year-old had been beaten in maidens on her first six starts but a solid listed showing at Killarney last month suggested she could be competitive.

From the outset of this extended nine-furlong race she took up a forward position under Shane Foley but it was only inside the last furlong that she got the better of the front-running Show Of Stars.

Paris Peacock (15/2) still had to contend with the effort of Didn’thavemuchtodo but she went to the line in gritty fashion to score by a neck from the last-named, with Show Of Stars a further half-length back.

“She’s always worked well and I couldn’t believe that she was beaten in so many maidens but it’s great she has won this,” commented the trainer. “Maybe she could go to America now or maybe she will stay here until the end of the season and then go to America next year. Now she has gotten her head in front, who knows what she might do.”

On the Road

Wayne Lordan made it 30 winners for the season on Aidan O’Brien’s Victoria Road in the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Maiden over seven furlongs.

This son of Saxon Warrior ran a fine fourth in the Ballyhane Stakes last time and enjoyed the step up to this trip while also showing a fine attitude.

The 15/8 chance broke alertly to make the running and over the last two furlongs he kept on tenaciously to hold off the favourite Clounmacon who was in receipt of 11lb. At the line the front pair were separated by half a length.

“Ryan (Moore) felt he’d be suited by going seven furlongs after the last day and he got a lovely ride from Wayne and found plenty when she second horse came to him,” declared the stable representative, Chris Armstrong. “The Futurity could come a little quick for him, but he has the Champagne at Doncaster or the Golden Fleece at Leopardstown as options.”

THE talented Safecracker, who has come close to landing several premier handicap pots over the last year, secured the McEnery Cup Handicap over a mile and a half.

The Godolphin-owned Golden Horn half-brother to Jack Hobbs was making a quick return to action after losing out to Dancila in a Leopardstown handicap six days previously.

The 3/1 joint-favourite was well positioned in second for Ben Coen from some way out and took the measure of the pace-setting Malibu Drive inside the last quarter of a mile. Inuit, who looked a spent force at one point in the straight, rallied well but Safecracker held on to prevail a neck.

“He was a little keen in some races but since we put the hood on him he’s relaxing really well. He’ll probably run in the mile-and-five-furlong handicap (Petingo) on Champions Weekend,” stated Murtagh.

A miracle

Willie McCreery’s Believeinmiracles (17/2) signalled she could be a filly to follow through the second half of the season as she came good at the fourth attempt in the Irish EBF-sponsored fillies’ maiden over an extended nine furlongs.

The Niarchos Family-owned three-year-old, who is out of a half-sister to Ulysses, shaped up well in an Oaks weekend maiden last time and took a further step forward with a determined effort from the front.

From two furlongs out it was clear that Nathan Crosse’s mount was not for passing and she kept on well to defeat Esculenta by two and a quarter lengths. The daughter of Frankel is likely to step up to stakes level in the autumn.

Favourite Friday

After enduring a last-gasp defeat at Leopardstown six days previously, Out On Friday and Killian Leonard gained compensation in the BoyleSports-sponsored 47-65 rated handicap over an extended nine furlongs.

The Philip Byrne-trained six-year-old was bidding for his first success in just under two years and moved to the front at an early stage.

Spirituoso loomed upside a furlong out and looked as though she might find a way past, but the Tony Deegan-owned and -bred winner fought on splendidly to carry the day by a head and justify 11/2 favouritism.

A trip to Galway’s September meeting could be next for Out On Friday.

The winning jockey was hit with a four-day careless riding ban after his mount drifted left in the closing stages.

A GOOD season for Kevin Coleman continued as One Small Step (22/1) pushed the trainer on to a career-best seven-winner tally for the campaign by landing quite a well-contested seven-furlong handicap.

This former English-based five-year-old finished down the field on her first start for the trainer at Naas last week but a switch to quick ground and a drop back to a well-run seven furlongs brought out the best in her.

In a messy race, Seamie Heffernan’s mount took control entering the last furlong before getting home by half a length from Massaman.

There was any amount of scrimmaging in behind with Blairmayne doing well not to come down while Andreas Vesalius looked decidedly unlucky in fourth.

“She didn’t show much in Naas but we knew she wanted fast ground which she didn’t get in Naas and she came on a lot for that run and I’d say she needs to go right-handed,” remarked the trainer whose mother Eileen owns the winner.

A subsequent enquiry into the interference resulted in a two-day careless riding ban for Shane Foley

Mantis repays

Praying Mantis (10/1) provided her connections with an instantaneous return on the 4,000gns she cost at the Tattersalls July Sale as she made a winning debut for Adrian McGuinness in the first division of the 47-65 rated Pat Smullen Coast To Curragh Cycle August 27th Handicap.

A winner at Thirsk on her final start for Daniel Loughnane having won here and at Listowel for Andrew Kinirons last year, Praying Mantis is now owned by Mark Devlin and was ridden by Adam Caffrey.

Drifting

She struck the front well over a furlong out and despite drifting steadily left she still recorded a clear-cut triumph over Cherub Rock.

The winner will be kept under wraps until Laytown next month.

McGuinness double

McGuinness promptly followed up in the second division of that seven-furlong handicap as Clarinbridge (11/1) struck under Rory Cleary.

This consistent 13-race maiden, who is owned by the trainer’s wife Hazel and Des Whyte, held every chance from around two furlongs out and dug deep to overcome the pace-setting Tai Sing Yeh nearing the line to score by a head.

She could turn out again at Dundalk or Killarney next week.