Zous opens her account in style at Thurles

Je Zous stepped forward nicely from her debut run to score in style in the opening fillies maiden at Thurles this afternoon.

The Joseph O'Brien-trained daughter of Zoustar had been seventh behind the smart Kitty Rose first time up at Naas and went to post 13/8 favourite today.

Dylan Browne McMonagle tracked the leaders before asking his mount to hit the lead early in the straight.

She quickened away over a furlong from home before going on to post a cosy length-and-a-half win over the fast finishing Alpheratz

Stabel representative Shane Crosse said afterwards:-

"She actually ran better than her finishing position first-time out. When you see the '7' beside her name you'd be thinking it was only an ok run but she stayed on well and was good through the line at Naas.

"Dylan was happy with her today, she jumped nicely and he kept the revs up on her from halfway. The ground probably isn't ideal but she coped with it and is genuine. She is a nice filly and hopefully will progress away.

"We were fancying her well and she has improved plenty - if anything she has strengthened up again."

(Quotes by Tom Weekes)