Third time lucky for Carlow County Carlow made it third time lucky, at Sligo this afternoon, with a powerful front-running performance in the Tote.ie Median Auction Maiden. Billy Lee popped out in front on the 10/11 favourite in the six furlong contest and it proved plain sailing. He asked the Paddy Twomey-trained gelding for an effort on the home-bend and the son of Saxon Warrior kept on well in the closing stages to beat Gia Mor by a length-and-three-quarters. It was a third career outing for County Carlow, who had been runner-up on his debut at Dundalk in March before finishing fourth there on his most recent outing last month. Twomey said:- "He was quick out of the gates the last day and just didn't see it out. It was trainer error to step him up to a mile from seven (furlongs) then, and back here today over a stiff six, he's done it well. "He was drawn 16 on debut and he came on a lot from the run. "He's a six/seven furlong horse. We'll see what rating he gets and maybe look for a winners' race." Lee added:- "It was fairly straightforward. He jumped well, travelled well in front and ground it out well. “He stays seven furlongs well, so I knew he'd keep going. He was a bit flighty beforehand, but that's just him, and once he was racing he was fine." (Quotes by Mark Nunan)
