Carmel's Phoenix makes winning start to hurdling career A maiden winner on the Flat at Cork recently, the Mark Fahey trained Carmel's Phoenix made the perfect start to her jumping career when easily landing the Start Your Racing TV Free Trial Now Mares Hurdle at Kilbeggan. Prominent from the outset under Thomas O'Connor, the 9/2 chance went second in pursuit of market leader Venusienne with a circuit to race. Despite a peck on landing, the Pat McCarthy owned mare led at the third last flight. With the favourite having no more to offer, Poetic Twist went second after jumping the penultimate obstacle. Pushed along to assert before the home straight, Carmel's Phoenix went right away to score impressively by 25 lengths. “She did it very well, she took us by surprise,” said Fahey. “She does jump well but she still shows a bit of greenness. She got all the allowances, she was getting 15lb off JP’s filly there. “Where we go next, we don’t know. We might look at a novice hurdle in Galway for her. “She’s a good filly, the boys gave her loads of time — John and Pat. “Tom gave her a great ride, he rides her out every day. She gives him plenty of hardship every day and he deserved to win on her today. “We didn’t think we were going to be coming up here with her but there is a break in national hunt racing coming up and there is no maiden hurdle for about three weeks. “We said we’d fire her in here and it would be a good experience for her, it worked out great for us. “She got left in front far enough out and then at the last two hurdles she was running around a little bit due to greenness. “She’s a good filly and if we can keep her sound the boys will knock good craic out of her.” Quotes by Gary Carson.
