In-form Thorne on a roll with Jack The Bachelor Stephen Thorne gave a good shout to Jack the Bachelor after saddling a winner in Leopardstown last night and the Mehmas colt vindicated his faith in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Race in Cork. The 5/2 chance broke smartly to lead his four rivals in this five-furlong assignment. He came off the bridle a furlong and a-half out as Kansas was pushed along to take closer order on him. The leader really found for Jack Kearney approaching the furlong marker, though, and swept in to scoop the first prize by a length and a-quarter for the 5/4 favourite Kansas. This was Jack The Bachelor's fourth career outing having finished runner-up on his last couple of starts in Tipperary and Down Royal. Thorne said: "He is bred in the purple speed-wise which caught our eye at the breeze-up sale and he also came highly recommended from Roger O'Callaghan's Tally-Ho Stud from who we buy a couple of breezers every year. "He has an awful lot of natural speed, but might have needed the first couple of runs to get into the proper racing system. I now feel he has the talent to jump up to stakes level as he has a lot of natural speed and is a top-of-the-ground horse. "Jack gave him a lovely ride, the horse settled lovely and he kicked at the right time." Thorne has now saddled three winners from his last three runners (Pink Oxalis at the Curragh last Sunday and Mayflower in Leopardstown last night). Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
