TRAINER Mar Fahey pulled off a remarkable training feat when Queen Lioness defied an absence from the track of almost three years to win the mile maiden for older horses at Limerick.
Into the bargain, the six-year-old sprang a huge surprise at odds of 50/1.
Abbeyfeale jockey Paddy Harnett steered the mare to a length victory.
“Super training performance by Mark,” Harnett said. “Fair play to the owner for giving her that time also. I had a bad draw, but the plan was to be handy. The race was straightforward, but I was left in front earlier than I would have liked. However, she is very genuine; she hit the line strongly, and there is plenty of improvement in her.”
Fahey added that he might consider trying Queen Lioness over jumps also, but he would be happy to first see how far she can on the Flat.
Earlier in the week, Hartnett was a winner with 16/1 shot, Rion Rubette, for Michael Butler at Gowran Park, Kilkenny.