Thunder strikes for Hassett Maggie Thunder swooped inside the final furlong to land the spoils in the five-furlong handicap at Dundalk. The 20/1 shot chased front-runner red Cymbal before running down that rival in the closing stages to record a two-and-a-half length win under Declan McDonogh. The daughter of Alhebayeb was trying the minimum trip for the first time having been fourth at Naas on her last outing in early August. Garrett Hassett, son of the winning trainer, said:- “She's a good tough filly. That's the first time over five and Declan told us to try her over it after riding her the last two times. “She was a bit dead when we came back from Naas in August so we gave her a break and brought her back. “We thought she'd handle the surface, she had run once here last year for another trainer, as she has a small quick action. “Obviously she had a very bad draw and I didn't know if she would be able to lie up over the five but Declan said she did no problem and stayed on well at the end. “He said you could step her back up to six or keep her at five so hopefully there is another day or two in her. “She actually grew when we gave her the break, she went up a bit behind, so I thought there was a bit of improvement in her. “She's a good genuine, honest filly and we're lucky to have her. We've had three runners this year and three winners so we can't ask for any more than that.”
