Alanza has Falmouth in her sights
Continuous rain from mid-afternoon turned the ground to ‘soft’ after the third race, a deterioration from the ‘Good, good to firm in the straight’ description at lunchtime.
But even the softening ground didn’t hinder Alanza, a proven fast ground filly, as she quickened from off the pace to head front-running Marvada approaching the furlong-pole. Clearly on top, the Dubai Destination filly appeared to idle, causing Murtagh to get to work before holding her rival by a neck.
John Oxx stated: “She won nicely, as we hoped she would. I though she was coming to win by a couple of lengths. But she does very little in front — she was dossing. The ground is gone a bit for her.
“But it’s good to win with her. She’s a seven-furlong, fast ground filly. But we might try a mile again and have another shot at a Group 1. So she’ll go for the Falmouth Stakes in Newmarket next month. We decided against the Windsor Forest next week as it’s a tough mile at Ascot.”
Oxx had triumphed with his first two-year-old runner of the season when the Pivotal filly Harasiya swooped inside the final furlong to beat well-touted favourite and fellow debutante Nurpur in the opening Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden,
Harasiya overcame a tardy start and, given time to settle into a rhythm by Johnny Murtagh, came through strongly to score by two and a quarter lengths in what looked a hot maiden.
Winning trainer Oxx said: “That was a good effort for a first-timer, after a slow start. We’ve always liked her, but it’s hard to know how green they’ll be first time. She could be a Moyglare filly, but we won’t be in any hurry with her. We’ll follow a familiar path, including the Debutante to see if she measures up.”
The second Group 3 event on the card, the six-furlong Ballyogan Stakes went to 9/4 favourite Fire Lily, ridden for David Wachman by Wayne Lordan.
The three-year-old Dansili filly, which acquitted herself well in Group 1 company last season and contested the French 1,000 Guineas last month, was registering her second stakes success.
Fire Lily got the better of British raider Swiss Diva at the furlong-pole before holding After by three-quarters of a length, prompting Wachman to comment: “Wayne gave her a lovely ride and got a grand run down the inside, although he was probably in front a bit soon. She deserved that and will run in some of the six and seven furlongs races — there are plenty of them !”
Lordan went on to complete a double when the Tommy Stack-trained Equity Swap defied a 14lb. hike for his win at Navan in late April in the finale, the Follow Loepardstown On Facebook Handicap.
Backed from 13/8 to 9/10, the progressive Strategic Prince colt had to work to get on terms before stretching clear to slam Filiatore by almost four lengths.
Unplaced behind stable-companion Lines Of Battle on his debut at the Curragh, Theatre produced an impressive display to justify hefty support (backed from 4/5 to 4/9 on track) in the two-year-old colts’ maiden.
Soon in front under Joseph O’Brien, the son of Galileo colt edged clear from the two- furlong pole to slam eye-catcher Mouteab by six and a half lengths.
Harry Rogers continued his rich vein of form when course specialist Strandfield Lady proved an emphatic winner of the Bibby Financial Services Handicap.
The seven-year-old mare, ridden by Sam James, was recording her sixth win over course and distance and will now be aimed at the Coolmore Ulster Oaks, in Down Royal, next Saturday.
Apprentice Charlie Elliott (16), from Skerries, County Dublin registered his first success when partnering the 3/1 favourite Bendzoldan, trained by his boss Jessica Harrington, to victory in the Original Rude Boys Apprentice Handicap.
Up 9lb. for a win at Down Royal, the four-year-old filly, bred by none other than Michael Kinane, got the better of Diamond Daze by a neck.
