Ahaaly set to go one better
The daughter of Exceed And Excel was well touted prior to making her debut at Limerick 13 days ago.
There was, however, equally strong word for another newcomer, the John Oxx-trained Shebella.
As it transpired the rumour mill had it exactly right and the pair, the best backed horses in the 12-runner contest, fought out the finish.
For most of the seven furlongs plus Ahaaly appeared to be holding all of the aces, until Shebella powered through late to beat her by a neck.
There was a lot to admire in the way Ahaaly travelled through the race and dropping back to six furlongs now is not a major concern.
Eddie Lynam’s Opa Loca gets the nod in a fascinating one mile Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden.
She finished third behind the gambled-on Sharalam over this course and distance last month and two of her main rivals now, Sli Na Fiarana and Sparking View, were also in that field.
Sli Na Fiarana took second, beaten a length, and was half a length in front of Opa Loca, with Sparkling View a further three parts of a length away in fourth.
It isn’t easy choosing between the trio, but Opa Loca pulled far too hard for her own good and was always going to struggle to get home.
Hopefully, she will settle better for Chris Hayes on this occasion and, if that’s the case, has more than enough ability to do the business.
Tommy Stack’s Dylanbaru is the choice in the opening four-runner Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Median Auction Maiden.
The Footstepsinthesand colt was light in the market on his debut at the Curragh, fourth to Jim Bolger’s Dawn Approach, and can only improve for the experience.
