Thunder Kiss earns plaudits in Killarney

Those who played the short odds on Thunder Kiss had few moments of worry as she did the job well in the median auction fillies' maiden in Killarney.

The grey daughter of Night Of Thunder cruised into the lead under a motionless Colin Keane as the field straightened up for home, and was given the office inside the final quarter of a mile. Toora Loora tried to make a race of it, however, Ger Lyons' Thunder Kiss didn't give her anything to aim at and stuck to her guns resolutely.

The 8/15 favourite won eased down by three parts of a length from the never nearer runner-up who went off at 5/2. Illusory was four and a half lengths further away in third at 18/1.

Assistant trainer Shane Lyons said: "Colin was as kind as he possibly could be to her as she doesn't do a tap when she hits the front at home.

"On form she is entitled to do that. She wants soft ground, will get further but on soft ground she doesn't have to get further.

"We'll take a breather with her now and look at an autumn campaign; the reason being she needs soft ground.

"She is an exciting filly and she is the only Night Of Thunder horse we have."

This was a step up to an extended mile and three for Thunder Kiss after she had been second over an extended nine furlongs in Gowran Park, and over a mile and a quarter at the Curragh.

Thunder Kiss holds entries in the Irish Oaks and the Group 2 Kilboy Estate Stakes, both at the Curragh this weekend.

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes