Magnificent Mahler Four-Timer

Crossgalesfamegame (5m Mahler - Fame Forever, by King’s Theatre) completed the first leg of a magnificent Mahler four-timer on Thursday when running out an impressive winner of the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle at Market Rasen.

Fourth on her hurdle debut last month, the Fergal O’Brien-trained mare seemed to appreciate the step up in trip on Thursday and went clear from the final flight, running on to win by 12 lengths.

Owned by Walid Marzouk and Richard Rowland, Crossgalesfamegame gave her sire’s base of the Beeches Stud further reason to celebrate, having been bred by Robert McCarthy.

Owner/breeder John Motherway was next to celebrate at Thurles, where his homebred mare Something Sweet (7m Mahler - Beg La Eile, by Lahib) gained her second win over hurdles in fine style. Ridden by Philip Enright, the bay scored by five and a half lengths, after which trainer Roger McGrath described her as “very genuine.”

The finale on the Thurles card, the two mile bumper, saw Rosgalme (4g Mahler - Woodville Queen, by Oscar) make a winning debut to provide Jay Archdeacon with his first success in the saddle.

He stayed on strongly late-on to deny the more experienced No Grey Area’s on the line, while point-to-point winner and favourite Wingin A Prayer took third. Winning trainer Noel Meade commented after the race, “Rosgalme is a nice horse and he stays really well,” adding that he will now take to hurdling.

Bred by Joseph Campbell and owned by the Knockmore Syndicate, Rosgalme is bred on a similar cross to dual Graded winner Chris’s Dream (Mahler).

Earlier at Sedgefield, the George Bewley-trainedMah Mate Bob (7g Mahler - Bobset Leader, by Bob Back) made all to justify favouritism in the two and a half mile chase.

It was the bay’s second start over fences, having also won over hurdles last season. Owned by John Wade and bred by Miss Mary Barry, Mah Mate Bob (pictured) is a half-brother to two black-type horses and is a full-brother to Capricia (Mahler), who finished third on debut last month.