Premier County trainers to the fore at the 'Junction'

Monsoon-like weather mid-week played ducks and drakes with the ground at Tipperary with the popular 'Junction' riding soft to heavy by the time racing got underway on Sunday.

However, it was not all doom and gloom as followers of local stables were on good terms with themselves with three premier county handlers visiting the winners enclosure on a day that saw only one favourite obliging.

Fozzy Stack drew first blood for the locals when he took the opening five furlong maiden for 2.y.o's courtesy of Piece Of Paradise.

The Holy Roman Emperor filly failed to trouble the judge in either of her previous two outings but the experience gained to her well as she broke smartly and led after a furlong. Lady Penelope arrived to throw a challenge inside the two furlong marker but Piece Of Paradise was not for catching as she passed the post a length to the good in the hands of 5lb claimer Andrew Slattery.

In his post race remarks, Stack revealed that the fitting of blinkers and a tongue-tie were of considerable help. His charge was well fancied on both her previous starts but kept looking around her. Now that she has got her head in front he is expecting her to improve a good deal and is looking at a listed contest at the Curragh this weekend as the next port of call provided that she comes out of the race well.

 

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