Fast Tara enjoys the ground on 'the Hill'

The 7/4 favourite Fast Tara landed the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden in the hands of Ben Coen.

The Johnny Murtagh-trained filly was close to the pace from the start and took over in front over two furlongs out. She stayed on well to account for Hokusai by a length and three quarters with promising newcomer Hudson Glen a further neck away in third.

There was a good turn-out of members of Syndicates Racing to welcome back their winner, third at Dundalk on her final start at two, to the enclosures.

Coen, getting off the mark for the season, said:- “That was very good. Being by Fast Company I was confident enough coming here on that ground.

“She seems to have strengthened up from last year. It was fairly straight forward, I probably hit the front too soon but there was nothing bringing me there.

“She's a nicely filly going forward on that ground.”

Quotes from Gary Carson