Thornbrook makes a winning start under McDonogh

Thornbrook (11/4) made a winning debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.

The well-bred daughter of Saxon Warrior was settled behind the leaders on the inside by Declan McDonogh and travelled well throughout. She was angled off the rail early in the straight and picked up to challenge over a furlong out.

After hitting the front inside the final furlong, she kept on well to beat the staying-on Lan Mara by a length and a quarter with 9/4 favourite Dame Kiri a further half length back in third.

Brendan Powell, representing winning trainer Joseph O’Brien, said: “She's a nice filly and Joseph thought a fair bit of her at home.

“Declan wanted to go forward on her but she was a little bit slowly away, which is usual because at home she was good.

“He got shuffled back so he had to sit where he was but she travelled lovely. He said he probably didn't want to commit her that soon but he had to because she was travelling so well when the gap came.

“He said she had a look in front and there is improvement in her. I think she's quite smart.

“She'll definitely go for a stakes race next time, where I don't know. He said she loved that ground as well.”

Quotes from Gary Carson