That's Mad gets off the mark

That's Mad gained a first career win at Cork today as the Leanne Breen trained gelding gave more depth to prolific winner A Step Too Far's form-lines, in winning the CorkRacecourse.ie Handicap.

That's Mad chased home A Step Too Far on his debut run for Breen at Bellewstown on August 26 and while the Kieran Cotter trained A Step Too Far was then completing the second-stage of a remarkable six-in-a-row winning sequence, That's Mad today scored a maiden win at the 11th attempt.

Ridden by Gavin Ryan, That's Mad travelled well for most of the five furlongs trip and in the end beat Keepthebestsideout by three parts of a lengths.

Afterwards Warrenpoint based Breen stated “he is an improving horse, came from Gordon Elliott's and is appreciating being in a smaller yard with a bit more attention.

“He has been trained like a proper sprinter and you can see the way he is finishing out strong and I think he'll be a good horse next year.

“He got to within half a length of A Step Too Far and she went on and won the Joe McGrath Handicap and we'll probably aim him for something like that next year.

“He seems very ground-versatile but that is probably as fast as he wants it; his stallion Equiano puts a lot of versatility in him and I'd like to see him on a bit easier ground again.

“I think he's improving and we'll see what the handicapper does; he might have a few runs at Dundalk but we'll keep him most on the turf which will be his main aim.”