Cercene steps forward to win easily on second start

Having shaped with plenty of promise when third on her racecourse debut in July, Cercene made a winning return after a short break when quickening up smartly to land the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden at Naas.

Sent off 5/2 under Gary Carroll, the Joseph Murphy trained filly showed an impressive turn of foot to sweep to the front deep inside the final furlong.

Held up in mid division early on, the daughter of Australia travelled nicely into the race to go seventh entering the straight. Pushed along to close over a furlong out, the eventual winner powered up the hill to overhaul Rowdy Yeats close home.

Joe Murphy junior said:- “We were never really happy watching it to be honest. She was going nowhere and then all of a sudden she won well.

“We think she's a very good filly. Whether she runs again this year or not, I don't know.

“We were kind of working back from the CL Weld Stakes all along but that might come up a bit too quick.

“Maybe the fillies Listed race at the Curragh (Staffordstown Stud Stake) might be a nice option for her and she's also in the auction final here as well.

“I'd say she could be finished for this year and she'll get an entry for both Guineas. Hopefully she'll build into that type of filly for next season.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson.