Lioness defies a long layoff at Limerick Queen Lioness won at 50/1 on her first start in almost three years today, being nicely produced by trainer Mark Fahey to win Limerick’s Anglo Printers Maiden for jockey Paddy Harnett and the P G C Syndicate. By 2,000 Guineas-winner Roaring Lion, who has success from his sole crop before dying as a four-year-old, Queen Lioness had finished fourth for trainer Johnny Murtagh on her only prior start at Fairyhouse on June 9 2023. Today, on her first start for a 1,051 days, six-year-old Queen Lioness raced prominently and eventually held on well to score by a length from 76-rated Treasure Rose . Fahey reported “she has had her problems and I don’t have her too long but we thought a little bit of her. I thought the trip would be a bit short but that ground is important, as she likes a cut. As long as she stays sound, she is something to look forward to. “She had been in pre-training prior to joining me three months ago and I’m delighted for her owners the Purcells. The lads picked her up to go breeding with her but decided to give her another crack at racing. “Paddy (Harnett) was great on her and it probably wasn’t the strongest of maidens, so we might now have a nice handicap mark.”
