100 for the season for Smullen

On the back of a debut Dundalk fifth placing fifty days back, Making Light progressed very nicely to take the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Median Auction Fillies Maiden (Plus 10 Race) at Limerick under Pat Smullen.

Smullen donned the Moyglare Stud Farm-silks on Dermot Weld's two-year-old daughter of Tamayuz, and the 3/1 shot chased the leaders from her stall nine draw.

Making Light travelled smoothly into contention in the straight. She led and edged right a furlong and half out, ridden to assert over a furlong out, keeping on strongly in the final furlong to go clear, and easily beat the staying-on first-timer, Fast Bid

"She handled the very testing ground very well and it looked a weak race and was a good opportunity for her. She surprises us that she won with such ease and it is always a big advantage having a run under your belt," said Smullen.

"We won't get carried away yet and hopefully she will improve. She could for a nursery next and long-term hopefully can get black-type."

Making Light goes down as Smullen's 100th winner of the season and he commented: "That's the hundred and it's great. It's my third time doing it.

"It doesn't mean a whole lot and it doesn't change anybody's life but it is a goal I set myself at the start of the year and it's always nice when you achieve it."

On Harzand meanwhile, 9th in the Arc yesterday, Smullen acknowledged: "I was a little bit disappointed as we were expecting a big run but he just didn't fire at all.

"I think he's a horse who put so much into the first half of the year and had very hard races in two Derbys and maybe he gave his all in the first half of the year. It may have left its mark but I have no excuses with the ground.

"He has been a brilliant racehorse and is a dual Derby winner so you can't take that away from him. He's a very very good horse but was just a better horse in the first half of the year."

The Stewards enquired into an incident in the home straight involving Coppertone ridden by C.D. Hayes, Making Light, ridden by P.J. Smullen, and Rooney O'Mara (GB), ridden by N.G. McCullagh, where it appeared Coppertone suffered interference.

Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards considered the interference to be accidental and they took no further action.

C.D. Hayes, rider of Coppertone trained by P.J.Prendergast, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount suffered interference in the home straight.

(TW & EM)