JESSICA Harrington and Shane Foley played a starring role at the only flat meeting of the year at Thurles as they notched up a treble which began with victories for a pair of promising two-year-olds. The first of these to strike was Foniska in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over a mile.

A daughter of Galileo and her trainer’s high-class filly Bocca Baciata, the Flaxman Stables-owned 5/2 shot lined up off an encouraging second to Be Happy at Cork last month and turned in a nice effort from the front. Foniska was able to control the race throughout and from well over a furlong out was holding the evens favourite Delightful who went down by two lengths.

“She was very green on her debut at Naas but stepped forward from that at Cork last time and she did it well,” reported the trainer. “I’d say that’s her finished for the season and she handles an ease in the ground so we will have her ready to go early next season.”

It was then the turn of Village Voice (11/2) who made a taking start to her career in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden over a mile. The Juliet Cooper-owned daughter of Zarak produced a smart effort to defy her inexperience and after biding her time to get a run still had plenty on when getting into the clear inside the last quarter of a mile.

Village Voice picked up smartly though and ran down Shangrilama late on for a cosy half-length triumph.

“We always thought that she was a nice filly and she has always worked well but I thought she might be too green to around here first time,” declared the trainer. “She’s entered in the final of this series at Naas but that is only 10 days away so we’ll see how she comes out of this.”

The smart jumper The Very Man brought up the treble as he justified 11/10 favouritism in the two-mile maiden. The 81-rated eight-year-old had shown up well in defeat on the level to reach the frame in maidens at Tramore and Listowel.

The Dan Kiely and Rob Kearney-owned son of Jeremy got stronger as the race went on and put his rivals to the sword in style over the last furlong and a half to defeat the three-year-old Sundial by three and a quarter lengths. The Naas November Handicap could be next.

Welcome boost

It was a day to cherish for injured Killarney-based trainer Charles Coakley who sent out his first winner for nine years when Itsalonglongroad bagged the 47-65 rated handicap over a mile and a half.

Now a winner of eight of his 71 career starts, the versatile eight-year-old was reverting to the level after a couple of spins over fences which yielded a second-place finish at Ballinrobe last month.

The Patrick O’Leary-owned 25/1 chance made all the running for Dylan Browne McMonagle and kept on well to hold Fair Damsel by two and a quarter lengths. It was a welcome boost for the trainer who is recovering from a broken pelvis sustained this week. The winner is likely to turn out again at Killarney on Monday.

Terence O’Brien has now won with both horses he has run on the flat this season after Speckled Meadow (6/1) struck under Adam Caffrey in the 47-65 rated mile handicap. The Don Browne-owned five-year-old lined up in search of the first win of her career and she began to get on top around a quarter of a mile out and kept on well to reach the line three lengths ahead of Stormie Outlook.

Royal a rare surprise for Willie Mullins

Willie Mullins sent out what will surely be one of his biggest-priced winners over the next six months as the Barnane Stud-owned Raving Royal struck at 28/1 in quite a well-contested mile-and-a-half handicap. The daughter of Kingman had struggled on two of her last three starts, but her debut third to Newfoundland at Navan in late May represented a good run and she was restored to that form.

Raving Royal made good progress from the turn-in to strike the front over a furlong out and kept on well to hold Zoffman by a length and a quarter.

“Her first run was eye-catching and Willie said to take my time and ride her with confidence, and if I got things right, I’d win,” reported Heffernan. “When you are riding for Willie Mullins, he gives you the confidence to take your time. If you take your time, they usually come good. I got there very easy and she is a beautiful mover and very well bred.”

Raving Royal’s success was followed by a 40/1 triumph for the Luke Comer-owned and -trained Three Comets in the 50-70 rated two-mile handicap where jockey Nathan Crosse achieved the notable distinction of riding out his claim.

Without a win since landing a Hamilton maiden for Roger Varian in August 2018, Three Comets came out the right side of a bobbing finish with Majestic Jewel.