Dundalk treble for Lyons

Ger Lyons was the man to follow at Dundalk on Friday where he sent out three winners as the all-weather racing started again. Johnny Murtagh landed the big race of the day with a horse which Lyons has high regard for, Fiery Lad, which landed the €39,000 first prize for the Irish Stallions Farm Handicap by three parts of a length from the Tony Martin-trained Charminamix. It was a typical Murtagh ride as the Bohermeen man got through on the rails in the closing stages and snatched victory. 'Rides like that make Johnny the best rider in the world and he told me, following his last run at Newmarket, that Fiery Lad is a very good horse and he was right,' enthused Lyons. 'Fiery Lad definitely won"t run on heavy ground and we"ll just take it race to race for the moment, but he"ll make a Stakes horse next year,' added the trainer. There was a sting in the tail for Murtagh who was hauled before the stewards who, following their deliberations, suspended the Meath man for three days. The enquiry centred on an incident shortly after turning into the straight. Murtagh completed a double when Marquesa won a maiden event. Second to Cuis Ghaire in a Group 3 at Naas in June, Marquesa made punters sweat for their winnings. The David Wachman-trained 8-13 favourite looked a little out-paced when the race began to get serious, but Murtagh remained calm and the juvenile ground down leader Jessica"s Girl and held off the battling Excellent Girl by three-quarters of a length. Lyons completed his treble when with Kinetic Quest which was partnered by Emmett McNamara in the Auction Maiden while Keagan Latham and Dohasa won the Bar One Racing Handicap. Stamullen trainer Tom McCourt was also in the winners" enclosure at the Louth track when Tornadodancer won the Hanlon Machinery Race under Ben Curtis. Curtis chased the leaders early on, but eventually got to the front over a furlong out, before holding the challenge of runner-up Invincible Ash by half a length. 'That was Tornadodancer"s 24th run and his first win, hopefully the handicapper won"t be too harsh on him now,' stated McCourt. There was an abundance of Group 1 action on Sunday"s card at Leopardstown and Murtagh was to the fore again. The Group 2 Debutante Stakes witnessed a smart performance from the David Wachman-trained Again, wich quickened well close home to prevail by three lengths for Murtagh 'The Moyglare in a couple of weeks would seem ideal for her, she might develop into an Oaks filly,' stated Murtagh who went on to complete a double with the Aidan O"Brien-trained King Of Rome in the Royal Whip Stakes. Following Sunday"s victory at Leopardstown, Again was introduced at 16/1 for next year"s 1,000 Guineas by Boylesports. Moynalty jockey Declan McDonogh won the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes with Mores Wells. Nina Carberry was in action for Ireland in the annual national hunt challenge against Australia when she was an outsider in the opening race of the series at Gawler on Wednesday of last week. She managed to beat only one home, but there was some solace for Meath in the fact that the Raymond Keogh-owned Sallum, which was partnered by Katie Walsh, finished second to the local favourite Mephistopheles. Walsh was hauled before the stewards following an incident at the final bend and received a warning, but she rode her first winner in when partnering Shinko Dancer to victory in a hurdle at Morphettville on Saturday Carberry finished last of the eight runners when her mount, Ego Trip broke down. The world"s only George Washington foal will be offered for sale at Goffs November foal sale. Bred by Italian breeder Stefano Luciani of Azienda Agricola Luciani near Rome, who also bred last year"s November sal- topping Galileo foal, the filly will be consigned by the Irish National Stud who feature amongst the leading vendors at this sale every year.The filly is out of the Rainbow Quest mare Flawlessly and is a half sister to Group 3 winner Ombre Legere as well as Group 1 placed Flawly, the dam of French Derby runner-up Best Name.