LADY Tilbury earned a crack at Royal Ascot’s Queen Mary Stakes after following up her maiden success in Cork earlier in the month by landing the Irish EBF Median Sires Series Race.

Her owners (MRC International) were out in force to greet the daughter of Bated Breath after she led over a furlong out and, despite wandering about, the 5/2 chance kept on well under Gary Carroll to beat Mehmar by a length.

“She’s a lovely filly but is not just a two-year-old. She’ll go to the Queen Mary,” said trainer David Marnane. “She has a lot of natural ability, is a big unit and has got plenty of gears. She hit the front plenty soon enough today and had a look but again I liked what I saw where she went around the bend, and he couldn’t pull her up. I think she probably didn’t learn much the second day (in Cork), so I’m glad she had the run here because she’s learned a good bit today.

“It’s a great bunch of people involved. We set up the syndicate this year and bought 19 two-year-olds, so it’s great to have one ready to go to Ascot. She’s the first runner, so hopefully there’s a few more nice horses in it.”

Stylish Mind

Pat Flynn also has Ascot aspirations for All In The Mind after the Alhebayeb gelding took the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden in great style. The well-backed 15/8 shot travelled smoothly for Conor Hoban to lead over a furlong out before stretching clear for a three-and-a-quarter-length victory over Winforglory.

“The way he’s improving I’m thinking his next race will be in the Jersey Stakes. He’s won apologising and if he improves again, he’s entitled to take his chance,” said Flynn. “My wife Catherine and our son Stephen picked him out as a yearling. I should have put him away last year as he weakened off but he’s now turning into a horse. He’s improving every run.”

McAuley Star in the ascendant

JAMES McAuley gained some compensation after a wretched week when Mischief Star (4/1) was prominent throughout to win the Tipperary Races Claiming Race.

The five-year-old gelding was following up another claimer success seven days earlier also under Jake Coen at Gowran Park when McAuley’s Hilltop Stables was about to suffer a huge loss after 17 horses broke loose from his yard onto a public road.

Harrowing

The Naul trainer outlined the harrowing story: “That was badly needed as it’s been a dreadful week. Fifteen minutes before he ran the last day, we got word of the horses running loose and today we lost the eighth horse and another definitely won’t run again.

“All we have is this lad, two geldings who were having box rest and the fillies. We’ll have do a bit of shopping in July and build a team again for Dundalk.” McAuley later claimed the winner back for €15,000.

Shajak shines

Jake Coen’s older brother Ben was also on the mark when Shajak justified good support (100/30 - 2/1 favourite) in the Thank You To All The Frontline Workers Maiden.

Trained by Johnny Murtagh for the Aga Khan, the Zarak colt led early in the straight and soon asserted to beat My Mate Mozzie by three and a half lengths.

“He’s been a work in progress but is coming along. He quickened up and stayed the mile and a half really well. He’s one of those big, late developers that should improve a bit with racing,” said Murtagh.

Fantasy springs a

surprise for O’Donnell

THE Willie Browne-trained Realtin Fantasy caused a 20/1 surprise when opening her account at the 24th attempt in the @tipperaryraces Maiden. Sean Bowen’s mount was prominent throughout and kept on best in the closing stages to deny Baby Rosabella by a neck.

Browne’s brother and fellow Tipperary trainer Michael said: “She’s a lot stronger this year than she was last year. She works well at home but never ran like she worked. It’s great for Eugene (O’Donnell) who also bred her and has stuck with her through thick and thin.”

Chocquinto in control

Chocquinto, 16/1 overnight but sent off at just 15/2, gained a fourth career win when taking control inside the final furlong under Andrew Slattery to beat Moss Tucker by a comfortable half length in the Tipperaryracecourse.ie Handicap.

Trainer Hilary McLoughlin was represented by her partner Martin Ferris who said: “She wants an easy five and ran with credit at Naas. We said we’d come here and see what would happen as there is a listed race in Cork next week. Tim (Bourke) also bred her and has the dam at home so he would like to get some blacktype.

“Thanks to Andrew Hogan who let us in here a fortnight ago to work and she breezed up lovely so we were happy to come back. We are training in Dualla which is just outside Cashel. We have 17 stables and thankfully they are all full. The horses are running well and long may it continue.”

Sea surges

The Visit Tipperary Handicap proved a competitive affair with top-weight Secret Sea (11/1) driven out by Billy Lee to hold off the renewed effort of Nusra by half a length.

Winning trainer Eoin Doyle said: “It’s great for the boys (Suir Syndicate) and she is a grand dual-purpose type. She’s a big mare and wouldn’t want it any quicker either.”