Donal Murphy
Cheap buy Tooreen wins on track debut
Tooreen & Jane Mangan cross the line in front from Stolberg in second
© Photo Healy Racing
The Robert Tyner trained Tooreen kept on best in the closing stages to win the bumper at Limerick, the This Club 15th June Flat Race, under Jane Mangan (second winner in as many days for her after partnering Wandering Star to victory at Wexford yesterday).
The daughter of Gold Well was making her racecourse debut this evening but she had run in three point-to-points, finishing second on her last two outings at Beclare and Dromahane.
Sent off at 6/1 she came with her challenge two furlongs out and with over a furlong to race she was in a line of four with Stolberg Dibdabs and Dannicourtney
She then gained a narrow lead from under a furlong out and she kept on well from there to hold off Stolberg (11/1) and Robbie McNamara by half a length at the line.
Dibdabs, who was backed from evens to 9/10 on-course, could only manage third, a further length and three parts back under Patrick Mullins for his father Willie.
Robert Tyner said afterwards: "She was just beaten in two point-to-points. She travelled well at Dromahane but was just outbattled. She looked a class act then.
"If the ground isn’t too firm she will run in a maiden hurdle next."
The winner cost just €2,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland November NH Sale in 2011 having went for just €1,000 as a foal.
After the race the Stewards suspended Robbie McNamara for two days for failing to give his mount sufficient time to respond to the whip.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes