Stela Star strikes for Tom Mullins

Lightning thankfully didn't strike twice for trainer Tom Mullins at Dundalk today as his recent Gowran withdrawal Stela Star landed the Foran Equine Irish EBF Auction Maiden under jockey Joey Sheridan.

The daughter of Epaulette was one of 12 runners which arrived at the start of the opening race at Gowran on Saturday only for the race to be delayed, and the runners returned to the unsaddling area, due to the presence of lighting in the area.

Fearing for the safety of jockey Sheridan and his own investment, Mullins promptly withdrew Stela Star from the race, with the meeting later being entirely abandoned by the raceday Stewards on the grounds of safety.

In another 'sliding-doors' moment for the filly, Mullins opted not to return to Gowran for Thursday's rearranged meeting and to instead take up today's option, in which Stela Star battled gamely inside the final furlong to eventually get the better of Sliabh Aughty to score by a neck.

The Cheltenham winning trainer later said “that was great. I got her out of the Orby sale quite cheaply (E23,000), she's well-bred and is very closely related to (Group 1 Prix de la Foret winner) One Master, and with that bracket now she'll be worth a few pounds.

“I was thinking before the race if she didn't perform today I'd put her away but there is a Listed race next week over the same trip.

“It depends on herself, what she does during the week, whether she'll come back or not but it could be nice to end the season maybe with the (black-type) bracket.

“The young fella (Joey Sheridan) thought she'd come on again. The second horse was coming to beat her half a furlong down and she pulled out more. He said she was dead genuine.”

Quotes from Gary Carson