Minx Tiara and Sean Flanagan© Photo Healy Racing
Sean Flanagan followed up a Cork treble yesterday with another success at Killarney today, as in-foal bargain-buy Minx Tiara (100/30) gained a first black-type win in the €26,000 Listed Killarney Towers Hotel (Mares) Hurdle.
Bought as a three-year-old for just €1,000, front-runner Minx Tiara's previous win was in March 2022 but had attained four black-type placings and today made the breakthrough, making all to comfortably beat Lady Rita by 4.5 lengths.
Delighted winning trainer David O'Brien reported “Minx Tiara is confirmed in-foal to Hurricane Lane so maybe that brought out that extra bit of improvement.
“We put her back over hurdles because she was better treated over hurdles and while she had a great run at Leopardstown (February), went to Sandown but the (UK) handicapper put us to the cross by giving us 11lb more. She also didn't eat when she went over and the ground was also really tacky which she doesn't like.
“I was delighted she got balloted out of a hot race at Punchestown (a fortnight ago) as I probably wouldn't have ran her here.”
He added “she has a high cruising speed, likes to go a good gallop and while she might be a soft finisher, you have to use her early pace.
“She was initially bought for 1,000 quid in Goresbridge and as she was showing a bit at home, the Fastey For Fun Syndicate bought her and have had great fun with her. She has been placed and has picked up big prizemoney in bigger races.
“Breeding is a long game and we aren't into it, so we'll probably sell her off at the end of the year and hope to replace her.”
