THERE were two divisions of the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race run at Thurles, and both were won in some comfort and with ease. The first division went to Dorans Weir (Fame And Glory) in a faster time, but the manner of both wins suggest that there is better to come from both winners. Dorans Weir had the advantage of having run once before, over hurdles, at the same venue.

While you have to go back a few generations in the family of Dorans Weir to find a runner of significance, the successful filly in division two, Eabha Grace (Walk In The Park), has some high-class relations up close.

Dorans Weir runs for her breeder Tom Doran, and the five-year-old is the second winner for her dam Inch Sunset (Zaffaran), She won three point-to-points before being purchased by Doran, and she went on to win over hurdles for him at Down Royal and Kilbeggan. Her first winner was Dorans River (Golan), successful in a bumper and four times over hurdles.

Trawl back to the Thurles winner’s fourth dam and she is the hurdle winner Corrie Royal (Fury Royal). She had four winning progeny, and two of them stand out. Fortune And Fame (Camden Town) was a high-class hurdler and his 10 victories over timber included a pair of successes in the Grade 1 AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

He came along many years after his half-brother Steel Duke (Calpurnius). Ten wins for him on the level included a listed race, but he was twice runner-up in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes. He went on to win four hurdle races and two chases.

Ken Parkhill

Eabha Grace was bred by Ken Parkhill, and regular readers will know he has had a tremendous run of success in recent years. He had his late father Marshall bred many great runners over many, many years.

A four-year-old making her debut, Eabha Grace is the first foal and runner for her dam Myska (Presenting) who was leased by Ken Parkhill and won a listed hurdle race when in the care of Willie Mullins.

Myska is one of six winners to date for her bumper-winning dam Zenaide (Zaffaran), and these are headed by the dual Grade 1 winner, and Cheltenham hero, Bob Olinger (Sholokhov). He won on his debut over fences last month and his best days could yet be ahead.