Stagecoach Mary exhibited tremendous determination as she battled her way to victory in the first division of the maiden hurdle at Thurles.
Trained by the esteemed Garry Caldwell, this remarkable mare took charge from the outset in the nearly two-mile race.
Approaching the penultimate hurdle, she found herself joined by the highly-favoured Clonshire River, priced at 5/6. Despite Clonshire River appearing to secure the win with a spectacular leap at the final hurdle, Stagecoach Mary demonstrated unwavering resolve, mounting a spirited comeback in the closing stages and ultimately triumphing by a margin of three parts of a length.
This triumph follows her commendable second-place finish in a Downpatrick bumper during her debut last August, as well as her respectable performances in a couple of formidable maiden hurdles last month. Reflecting on the race, Caldwell revealed a strategic shift that yielded positive results, stating,
"We implemented a change in tactics today, and it paid off splendidly. Stagecoach Mary possesses an admirable level of authenticity, always putting forth her best effort. When we acquired her, our long-term plan involved transitioning her to the world of chasing. However, she can be quite spirited, which is why we use a hood to help settle her".
Considering the relative strength of the maiden hurdle, Caldwell seized the opportunity to gauge the outcome, commenting,
"Given that it was a moderately competitive maiden, we decided to take a chance and observe the unfolding events. Now, we will take her back home and allow her a well-deserved respite. Our current operations involve a modest number of eight or nine horses in training. It has been quite some time since I last had a national hunt runner, and I only reinstated my licence earlier this year".