Madame springs surprise for Bunyan The Darren Bunyan trained Madame Thunder sprang a 20/1 surprise in the five furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Maiden as she ran out a comfortable winner under Leigh Roche. The daughter of Zebedee was purchased for E17,000 at Goffs in October and she was available at 33/1 last night. Settled towards rear she was pushed along under two furlongs out and improved into third with a furlong left to race. She kept on well on the rail in the final furlong, hitting the front inside the final 100 yards before going on to score by a length. Rua Bonaparte finished second under Chris Hayes for Kevin Prendergast at 7/1 while China Eyes (16/1) was a further length and a quarter back in third under Declan McDonogh for Patrick Prendergast. Most Beautiful was sent off the 11/4 favourite and she finished fourth under Wayne Lordan for David Wachman while the well-backed Miss Katie Mae (9/2 to 3/1 on-course) could only manage fifth under Colin Keane for Ger Lyons. Darren Bunyan said afterwards: "I didn't expect her to get her head in front as she's a proper good ground filly. On that performance she could be anything. "She will come back here on June 1st for the six-furlong Listed race. Hopefully it will be Ascot after that if she keeps going the right way. "The ground was my only concern as she looked very ground dependant at home. She's a very smart filly, and you won't see the best of her until she's going six or seven (furlongs). "The (Straight To Victory) Syndicate is well named as this is their first runner. They are a group of bankers from London and Singapore, and are a great bunch of lads." Additional reporting by Alan Magee
