Clonmel hosted an eight-race card on Wednesday and Shane Foley dominated proceedings with a near 44-1 treble but Japanese jockey Ryusei Sakai was out with the washing on his only ride and will be hoping for much better luck when he returns to Leopardstown to ride last year’s third, Shin Emperor, in the Irish Champion Stakes.

To start Foley’s fine evening, So Golden got off the mark with a convincing display in the Slievenamon Maiden. Perhaps a shade disappointing in Tramore, following a most promising debut, she bounced back in style and when she got the better of longtime leader Coul Dreamer, she won with a little in hand.

Said winning trainer Ken Condon: “Shane had ridden her the first day and she had put up a nice effort. I thought she ran solid enough at Tramore but today we thought we’d give her rider a bit more of a chance and not necessarily lead. The race worked out well enough and she went to the line strong.

“She’s the second horse Nicky and Catherine (Hartery) have had with us and the first one to run, so it’s great. Nicky bred Laws Of Indices, which was a smart horse for us, and he’s had to be patient with this filly. Since she’s come to us, she’s been straightforward and it’s great that she’s won.”

Looking ahead to Irish Champions Festival, Condon reported Queen Of Thunder in fine fettle in advance of her run in the Group 1 Coolmore America Justify Matron Stakes.

“She’s in great form and should get some cut in the ground, which she enjoys. She’ll be a big price,but Jaber (Abdullah, owner) is very sporting.

“She has come out of Tipperary really well and when they’re on a bit of a roll and they’re flowing, there’s no point stopping. She had a long time off but I’m hoping she will stay in training next year. She’ll be a big price on Saturday but I’m hopeful she will run a big race.” 

The form of Iron Fist’s victory in Killarney received a boost when runner-up Hellorhighwather won on Tuesday at Galway and the winner added further substance to it by following up in the Knocklofty Handicap. Jessica Harrington’s progressive gelding gave Foley leg two of three, and he had little more than half an hour to wait to complete his treble, which he did aboard Chou Chou in the St Patrick’s Well Handicap.

Eamonn O’Connell’s four-year-old had a good buckle with market leader Warazam but found plenty to shade the verdict.

The Clonmel Racecourse Supporters’ Club Fillies’ Maiden got the eight-race card up and running and Its All Peachy, trained by Michael O’Callaghan and ridden by Jamie Powell, took over from favourite Tswalu with two furlongs to go and won quite readily.

Jockey Joey Sheridan is enjoying a great season and winner number 25, which edged him ahead of his previous best, came courtesy of Justenzia in the Suir Blueway Handicap. The filly, having just her second run for Denis Hogan, led early in the straight and battled on well to keep Miss Americana at bay.

Shoda wasn’t winning out of turn when taking the Tipperary Perpetual Cup for trainer Joseph O’Brien. She travelled sweetly to lead halfway up the straight but Dylan Browne McMonagle, who leads the jockeys’ championship, had to be at his strongest to keep Not Just Any Eagle at bay.

Two divisions of the John Thomas McNamara Series Qualified Riders’ Handicap completed the eight-race card and The Mediator too the first division in good style. Trained by Gordon Elliott, ridden by Josh Halford, and led up by Tara Moneypenny, who rode him to finish fourth in the Pat Smullen Cancer Trials Ireland Charity Race late last month at the Curragh, he went a couple clear close home and readily held the fast-finishing Rich Belief.

The second division marked a significant point in the career of jockey Jack Martin as he earned the first winner of his career aboard the Joseph Murray-trained Make Good.

“Delighted. I’ve been in this game a long time now, not riding, but Dad (Pat) is a trainer, and it means a lot to be able to do this,” said an emotional Martin. “I ride out for Finbarr Hand, and he uses Joey’s gallops every day, so that’s how I know Joey.

“The horse had really good form in younger days, and gets three miles really well, so I had no problem going forward on him. I couldn’t believe they weren’t coming to me three out, and I just tried to keep him going from there – and thank God he did. It could be waiting a while for the next, but it’s great to get one out of the way.”