Classic contenders were on display at Tipperary tonight where John Murphy's Almutamore caused a 20/1 surprise to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden, ahead of her bid for the 1,000 Guineas.
The well bred daughter of Almutawakel received a strong ride from Pat Shanahan who forced the filly to the front inside the final furlong, for a length and a half win.
Almutamore had finished a promising 8th on her only run at Navan last October and Murphy later explained 'I entered her at the second entry stage for the 1,000 Guineas because of the way she improved over the winter.'
Joan Brosnan, wife of HRI chairman Denis Brosnan, registered a win as an owner with the homebred Maigue Violet landed the www.tipperaryraces.ie Race under Danny Grant.
Winning trainer James Burns later reported 'she barely stays five furlongs and we will stick to the minimum trip with her, preferably on better ground.'
The Sologhead Handicap went to 25/1 outsider Jamie's Prince, providing jockey James Murphy, with his first winner.
Murphy, 24 from Donegal, had, only one hour earlier, ridden in his first race and produced Jamie's Prince to lead over two furlongs out, riding him out for a 3/4l win over Petite Bois.
The win was also a first Flat winner for Murphy's boss and Kells based trainer Paddy Rogers who reported 'the win wasn't totally unexpected as we though he was getting back to near his best form.'
The opening two year old maiden went to Dermot Weld's easy to back newcomer Royal Intrigue (100/30 from 9/4).
Weld was absent but his elder son Mark did report 'we are very pleased with that and he will be stepped up to Group company now. He looks a progressive type and coped well with the testing ground.'
Ger Lyons, out of luck with Dynamo Dancer in the first, did saddle a winner, when Inch Island defied top weight to win the Ballykisteen Handicap, despite missing the break.
The concluding 1m4f maiden went to John Oxx's Ebaziyan, under Michael Kinane.
