Coffee Cantata gallops home strongly

Coffee Cantata may have been weak in the market but she was strong at the finish in the mares' bumper over two miles at Tramore.

The six-year-old, trained by Paul Fahey, made a promising debut just over two weeks ago in Kilbeggan when keeping on well for third. She was beaten two and a half lengths there but stepped up on that form to post a victory this evening.

In this assignment Westerner Lady and Patrick Mullins took up the running from flagfall as John O'Neill settled Coffee Cantata in seventh. With a circuit to race she had improved into a close-up fourth.

O'Neill gave her a squeeze inside the three pole and she was soon on terms with Westerner Lady and Kilbarry Mandy

Racing round the home turn and Coffee Cantata grabbed the lead but faced a stern challenge from Very Extravagant on the outside.

Coffee Cantata kept on strongly though and was able to hold Very Extravagant (12/1) by half a length. Rosetub at 14/1 was six lengths back in third.

Paul Fahey said: "Those colours were registered in 1975 and that is their first winner. So perseverance pays! Fiona (Hughes) owns and bred her and she has been my vet for years. She gave me this filly to train and I'm delighted to get a winner for her.

"She had a very nice run the first day and she was bound to improve from it. I couldn't believe when I saw 8/1 in the ring. She is a lovely straightforward filly and she is an absolutely super jumper. We are looking forward to her going jumping and she is from the family of Seskin Bridge. She has a lovely pedigree. She will keep going for the summer. We might give her a small break now.

"The summer tracks deserve credit as they are watering the tracks to perfectly safe ground. I don't think they get the credit they deserve. They are making the ground safe and summer racing is much more safe now than it was ten years ago."

Coffee Cantata was available at 7/2 this morning but doubled in price to 7/1 on the off.

The Stewards received a report from Turf Club Starter, Mr.J.R.Banahan, that Mr D.L. Queally, rider of Kilbarry Mandy had disobeyed his instructions, which lead to a false start. Evidence was heard from the starter and rider concerned. Having viewed the recording of the incident and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the

opinion that the rider was in breach of Rule 208 and having considered his record, suspended him for four race days.

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy