THE late Lady Melissa Brooke enjoyed much success as a breeder at her Glenbevan Stud in Croom, Co Limerick, and in recent years her son, Sir Francis, has taken on the mantle. He is a familiar figure here in Ireland through his love of racing, but publically is best known as the chairman of Ascot and His Majesty’s representative at Royal Ascot.

His latest success on the breeding front comes thanks to Femme Magnifique’s easy victory in a bumper at Thurles on her first start from Willie Mullins’ Closutton Stables. The five-year-old daughter of Champs Elysees (Danehill) found her way to Co Carlow after her sale in January at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sale for £95,000 to Harold Kirk. She is a graduate of the Matthew Flynn O’Connor academy at Ballycrystal Stakes.