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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Impressive Jareth another winner for John O'Donoghue

Thu 10th Oct 2024, 15:19

Jareth  Jareth
© Photo Healy Racing

Jareth continued the fine run of form of Curragh trainer John O'Donoghue when proving far too good for his 13 rivals in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden.

Stepping up in trip by a couple of furlongs after showing promise on debut at Sligo, the Make Believe gelding was at the head of affairs from the outset along with Georg Zhukov and was ridden clear over a furlong out to beat that one by an emphatic six-and-a-half lengths.

O'Donoghue said of Dr Marcella Burns' juvenile: "We always thought there was a maiden in him and we just wanted to pick our spot - I thought he'd win today. The maidens landscape in Ireland is tricky, so thankfully it worked in our favour today and I'd say we'll go up in grade before the end of the year.

"Sligo was soft (ground) and it was good today, so he is versatile ground-wise and there is plenty more to come. We'll look at a pattern race before the season ends and could head to the UK."

He added: "Thank God we are finally rolling as it had been a very frustrating year. I was on 30-something runners (without a winner) in July and while nothing was wrong, they all just needed time although we are capitalising on it now.

"Having a good run now is huge as we are very owner/breeder orientated and while we aren't in Book 1 (at the Tattersalls Yearling Sales), we'll look around in Book 2 over the coming days."

Quotes from Tom Weekes

1st
16/5
Tote €4.20 €1.50
2nd
6.5L
10/1
€2.60
3rd
1.75L
11/4JFav
€2.00
4th
0.75L
12/1
bf
1.25L
11/4JFav
About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.