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TEN DAYS TO REMEMBER FOR THURLOE RUNNERS

May 23, 2021

A serious run of form saw Thurloe runners performing at a 50% winning strike rate with three winners coming from six runners over the course of ten days and the remaining three all finishing second.

The first winner came in the shape of FAROUT, a four year old son of DARK ANGEL who was having his second start for Thurloe Ireland. A purchase from the Arqana Deauville Mixed sale last October, Farout was thrown in at the deep end in a Grade 3 event first time out in February by trainer Willie Mullins where he finished a modest five of six.

He returned to the track at Cork three months later on 8th May for the Thanks To All Frontline Workers Maiden Hurdle where he looked a completely different horse. Under Danny Mullins, the horse appeared a lot more street wise, jumping much better and always travelling strongly. He quickened very impressively from the back of the last to the winning pole and went away to win very comprehensively by fifteen lengths. All Danny Mullins had to do was give the horse a shake shake of the reigns and the horse responded with some ease, quickening up in the manner of a good horse. It was a very exciting victory and we are looking forward to finalising his future plans with the team at Clostutton.

FAROUT wins at Cork on Saturday 8th May under Danny Mullins
Trainer: Willie Mullins

Following on from Farout’s win, that same evening, it was very pleasing to see another hurdler in MOONLIGHT FLIT finishing second at Warwick. The five year old, trained by Nicky Henderson was having his first go over hurdles and showed up well, staying on as if to suggest that he will get further too. He is a big son of Getaway who really appreciated the softer going conditions and will likely appreciate a fence in time. 

The new week of Monday 10th May began with a fine second from SCARPETA in the Sliabh Luachra Hurdle at Killarney behind JP McManus’ Darasso. The horse was given a really positive ride by Danny Mullins and put in his best run since returning from an injury earlier on in the season. This was to be SCARPETA’S final run for us before heading to the Goffs HIT Sale, where he was sold to Andrew McNamara to continue his career on in Ireland. SCARPETA has been a fine servant for us, winning three times and taking us to the Cheltenham Festival two times. His best result was when he finished a thrilling fourth in the 2018 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle behind Samcro.

The “seconditis” continued with REMEDIUM having second run of the season for us on the evening of Monday 10th May. Having finished a very good second at Nottingham in April, REMEDIUM was well supported in the market to go one better than that result. That and the fact he had finished behind a subsequent Lingfield Derby Trial winner in Third Realm meant that he went off the 6/5favourite. REMEDIUM travelled very strongly into the race and with a furlong and a half to go he looked the winner. He idled in front and looking a bit green still and was nabbed in the closing stages by Andrew Balding’s Zuraig. 

Our luck would change at the end of the week with ACHELOIS making it winner number two of the week in the Casumo Bet 10 Get 10 Novice Stakes under a super ride by David Probert. The three year old filly by the late, great Zoffany was having her second start of the season and was up against the boys to record her first win. There was ease in the ground thanks to over night rain which suited our filly well and she bounced out and showed a nice turn of foot to just get up and beat the Richard Hannon trained Soundslikethunder – revenge from Remedium getting mugged by an Andrew Balding trained horse five days earlier! 

ACHELOIS wins at Newbury on Friday 14th May under David Probert 
Trainer: Andrew Balding

The final winner of the good run came from TAHITIAN PRINCE who lined up at Kempton on Wednesday 19th May for the Unibet Extra Place Offers Every Day Handicap over a mile. Tahitian Prince had the services of Sean Levey, the man who steered him home in such stylish fashion when he was a winner at Doncaster at the beginning of the season. The race panned out perfectly for the duo, with the horse making good headway down the middle of the track at the furlong pole. He grinded out the finish to win by a head from the favourite Bonneval, making it win number two of the season and capping off a brilliant 10 days. 

TAHITIAN PRINCE wins at Kempton on Wed 19th May under Sean Levey
Trainer: Richard Hannon