SHARP DEBUT FROM MOORSTOWN ARWEN

Peter Farrell

It was an all-graded affair at Thurles Park on Saturday night, but the performance that truly caught the eye arrived in race five, where Moorstown Arwen announced herself as a future prospect.

Just a June puppy, the Joseph O’Flaherty-owned youngster entered the ON2/3 contest with only modest qualifying efforts to her name, though her pedigree hinted there was far more beneath the surface. A daughter of Tommy Shelby and Galadriel, herself out of Limini, ‘Arwen’ proceeded to deliver a commanding display on debut. Drawn in trap five, the white-and-blue broke on terms and immediately disputed the early running with Knockroe Susie in three. Displaying the sharper early gears, ‘Arwen’ swept the opening bend to edge into a narrow advantage over the improving Breaghmore Katie. It was approaching halfway, however, that the race truly changed complexion. Stepping on the gas around the third and fourth bends, O’Flaherty’s charge powered up the Thurles hill, quickly stretching her lead to five and a half lengths over Breaghmore Katie. Stopping the clock in a smart 29.14, she marked herself as one to follow in the weeks and months ahead.

BEEBEE QUICKEST

Elsewhere on the card, fan favourite Holiday Beebee went quickest of all as she secured her tenth career victory for joint owners Seamus Ryan and Roger Quinlan.

A classy performer on her day, the brindle had suffered a couple of near misses in recent starts, but there was no denying her on this occasion. Breaking only moderately from her favoured red jacket, the daughter of Grangeview Ten and Beebees Star unleashed her trademark early pace to take control entering the back straight, with Cabra Rambo giving chase. Once in front, she asserted decisively at the midway point and had matters well in hand by the bottom bends. Maintaining a commanding advantage on the run home, ‘Beebee’ powered to a five-and-a-half-length success over Cabra Rambo, stopping the clock in a rapid 29.01, which was the fastest time of the night.