Femme Beauty a first career winner for Max Popan Max Popan rode the first winner of his short career to date when partnering market leader Femme Beauty to land the opening Ronan & Tom Gibbons Memorial Apprentice Claiming Race at Ballinrobe. Having just his seventh ride under Rules, Popan had the 13/8f away smartly, getting to the lead after going a furlong. Setting perfect fractions out in front, Popan kicked on aboard the Ken Condon trained filly early in the straight, keeping on strongly to score by four-and-a-half lengths in the colours of Mrs Pauline Condon. Popan said: "Ken (Condon) told me to jump out and make the running. "I was a little slowly away, but when she got to the front, she was a bit keen with me. "At the two (furlong) pole, I could see Delusional wasn't getting any closer to me, so I said 'go' and she's done it well. "It's only my seventh ride and to have a winner is unbelievable. "I'm from Kildare town and my parents are from Moldova originally. "I went to RACE and then was with Conor O'Dwyer for a while, and also spent some time with Edward and Patrick Harty. "I started riding out for Ken last year and he's been very good to me. His horses are flying this year and I'm delighted to ride a winner for him." The winner was subsequently claimed for 15k by trainer Ger O'Leary, that being the sole claim in the race. Quotes by Mark Nunan.
